The Crusades Era

Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known in the West as Saladin, was a Kurdish Muslim military commander and statesman who founded the Ayyubid dynasty and served as the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Born in 1137 CE in Tikrit, Saladin rose from relatively modest origins to become one of the most celebrated figures in Islamic history. He is best known for uniting the Muslim territories of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia under his rule and for his decisive victory over the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 CE, which led to the recapture of Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader occupation. Renowned for his military genius, political acumen, and chivalrous conduct toward both allies and enemies, Saladin became a legendary figure respected by Muslims and Christians alike. His legacy as a just ruler, skilled commander, and defender of Islam has endured for more than eight centuries, making him a symbol of Islamic resistance, unity, and ethical leadership.

The decisive battle fought on July 4, 1187 CE, where Saladin's Muslim forces achieved a crushing victory over the Crusader armies near the Horns of Hattin in Palestine. This pivotal battle led to the recapture of Jerusalem and marked the beginning of the end of Crusader dominance in the Holy Land, demonstrating Islamic military prowess and Saladin's strategic genius.

The conquest of Jerusalem in 638 CE by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab marked the peaceful Islamic liberation of the holy city, establishing principles of religious tolerance and protection that would characterize Islamic rule in Jerusalem for centuries.

The Ayyubid Dynasty (1171-1260 CE / 567-658 AH) was a Sunni Muslim dynasty founded by the legendary Saladin that ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and parts of Mesopotamia. The Ayyubids unified the Muslim territories of the Middle East, recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders, promoted Sunni Islam and Islamic learning, and created a sophisticated state that combined military power with cultural patronage and diplomatic skill.

Baybars I (c. 1223-1277 CE / 620-676 AH) was the fourth Mamluk sultan of Egypt and Syria, one of the most formidable military commanders in Islamic history. Rising from slavery to become sultan, he defeated the Mongols, systematically expelled the Crusaders from the Levant, established the Mamluk Sultanate as a major power, and created administrative and military systems that would endure for centuries.

The Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517 CE / 648-923 AH) was a powerful military state that ruled Egypt and Syria for nearly three centuries. Founded by former slave soldiers, the Mamluks defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut, expelled the Crusaders from the Levant, protected the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and presided over a remarkable cultural and architectural renaissance in Cairo and Damascus.