Born in Tikrit, Iraq, his full name was Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub known to us as Salahuddin Ayyubi. He united and lead the Muslim world and in 1187, he recaptured Jerusalem for the Muslims after defeating the King of Jerusalem at the Battle of Hittin near the Lake of Galilee. When his soldiers entered the city of Jerusalem, they were not allowed to kill civilians, rob people or damage the city. The more successful Saladin was, the more he was seen by the Muslims as being their natural leader.
He was brought up by his noble father and talented uncle, Asad-ud-din Shirkhu. Salahuddin was a very intelligent and noble person. He loved peace and never enjoyed fighting battles. But all changed when Salahuddin was ordered to go to Egypt with his uncle. He went to Egypt many times with his uncle to fight two enemies, the Franks and the Batnids. After his uncle’s death, he became the commander and Vizier of Egypt. Salahuddin Ayyubi never lived in the palace. Instead, he lived in a small house near the mosque. Salahuddin had a great love for Islam and as the vizier and general of Egypt, he tried hard to root out the Crusaders. For this purpose, he maintained a strong army. He established peace and prosperity throughout the country.
Having revitalized Egypt’s economy and reorganized its land and naval forces, Saladin repelled the Crusaders and took the offensive against them. Saladin expanded his power in Syria and northern Mesopotamia.Following the submission of Damascus (1174), Halab (Aleppo) (1183), and Mosul (1186), numerous Muslim armies, allied under Salahuddin’s command were looking invincible. The Crusaders were not happy by Saladin’s increasing power and success. Uniting their forces, they planned a decisive attack on a Muslim area of Hittin, where a famous battle took place. Muslims won under the leadership of Salahuddin and thousands of Crusaders were arrested but Salahuddin treated his prisoners with tolerance.
In 1187 CE, Salahuddin conquered Jerusalem and thousands of Crusaders were arrested. However, when their mothers, sisters, and wives appealed to Salahuddin, he released them. Many crusaders were ransomed, however he himself paid for many of them. He allowed neither massacre nor looting and he gave free pardon to all citizens. He even arranged for their travelling. He granted freedom to Christians to leave the city if they paid a small tribute. Salahuddin paid it, himself, for about ten thousand poor people. His brother paid for seven thousand people. Salahuddin also allocated one of the gates of the city for people who were too poor to pay anything that they leave from there.
On Friday 27th Rajab 583 AH, Saladin entered Jerusalem. After entering the city they went straight to the Mosque and cleaned it. Then for the first time in more then 80 years, the people of Jerusalem heard the Azan (call of prayer) from Al Aqsa Mosque.
In 1189 the nations of western Europe launched the Third Crusade to win back the holy city. But they failed. On March 4, 1193, Salahuddin died in Damascus. He died with no possession of gold coins, palaces or slaves, but the Holy Land of Jerusalem.