Salahuddin al-Ayyoobi (Saladin)
24-4-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
Who was Salahuddin al-Ayyoobi?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The biography of Salah Eddine Al Ayoobi is detailed in books that deal with biographies and lives of great and eminent people. But here is a brief summary about the life of this great leader.
He is the Sultan and King Abul Muzafar, Salah Eddine (Saladin) Yusuf Ibn Ayoob. He was a great Muslim warrior and a famous leader. He founded the Ayoobi dynasty which ruled Egypt and Syria. He was born in Tikrit (Iraq) in 532 AC. He was a Kurd. He studied in religious institutes where he memorized the Quran and learned the religious sciences as well as the Hadeeth and poetry.
He stayed 10 years in the palace of the Saljuqi Sultan Nur Ad-Deen. Then, he helped his uncle Sherkoh in his military invasions against the Fatimides who were the rulers of Egypt (559-562). After the death of Sherkoh, Salah Eddine succeeded him as Minister of Egypt. Soon, he defeated the Fatimide. But Nur Eddine accused him of betrayal and prepared for invading Egypt. However, he died before this invasion. Thereupon, Salah Eddine declared Egypt independent from the empire and declared himself Sultan (king) of Egypt. Salah Eddine started his military actions by conquering Yemen and Palestine. Then, he overtook Damascus and Halab after his triumph over the Fatimides. After that, he started fighting the crusaders in Palestine and defeated them in the battle of Hittin. He freed the Mosque of Al Aqsa from their domination.
Later on, he confronted Richard the First (lion-hearted), king of England in the third crusade. Actually Richard I (the first) wanted to reconquer Jerusalem but he was defeated. Salah Eddine signed Ramla treaty with this king whereby the crusaders would live in a narrow coastal line that stretches from Sur to Haifa.
After this battle, Salah Eddine became very famous in Europe as a magnanimous, good and well-behaved warrior.
Indeed, Salah Eddine was not only a known warrior but also a well-educated one. He liked knowledge and encouraged scholars. He built mosques, irrigated lands, built towers and castles in Damascus and Cairo.
Allah knows best.