The Biography of Sultan Salah al-Din Ayyubi ‘May Allah Have Mercy on Him’ (Part Five)
Interest in Jihad, Faith, and Certainty
Nur ad-Din had a profound interest in jihad and fighting against the Christians. His determination, trust, faith, and certainty were unparalleled. In 558 AH, he faced defeat in the battle of Hasan al-Akrad (better known as the Battle of Buqiyya) due to a sudden attack by the Christians. Nur ad-Din was stationed near Homs, just a few miles from the enemy camp. Some sympathizers advised him that it was unwise to stay near the enemy. Nur ad-Din responded, “Be quiet,” and added, “If I have a thousand soldiers riding with me, I fear nothing from the enemy. I swear by Allah, I will not step under the roof of any building until I take revenge on behalf of the Muslims and Islam.”
Nur ad-Din generously distributed gifts, sums of money, and war spoils to his soldiers, thereby increasing the size of his army. Some advisors suggested that a certain amount should be deducted from the treasury meant for the poor, jurists, Sufis, and reciters to aid the army. Nur ad-Din would become upset and respond, “This victory that has come to me from Allah is due to the blessings of prayers and the satisfaction of these poor and weak people. It is mentioned in the hadith that the help and blessing of Almighty Allah reaches the weak, so how can I stop or deduct the rights of such people? They fight on my behalf while I rest, and their arrows rarely miss the target. These poor people have a definite right to treasury funds, and I cannot give their rights to others.”
Nur ad-Din fully prepared himself to take revenge against the Christians and incentivized his army with rewards. He wrote letters to the border guards and governors of the Islamic states, encouraging them to fight in the way of Allah and to cooperate with the mujahideen. He also reached out to the ascetics, devotees, and the poor residents of the region in his letters, detailing the atrocities committed by the Christians and asking for their prayers. He urged them to encourage the Muslims and prepare them for jihad. The recipients of his letters read them with tears and emotions in front of their communities, praying for the Sultan.
A wave of enthusiasm and love for jihad spread among the various classes of people, and in every state, they rallied to support the Sultan with large armies. Meanwhile, the Christians gathered their forces, fully equipped and prepared, to confront the Muslims. Praise be to Allah, not only was the Sultan absolved of his oath as he defeated this substantial Christian force, but he also successfully conquered the area and the city of “Harem.”
Nur ad-Din’s faith and certainty can be illustrated by the incident during the siege of “Banias” fortress, where his brother Nasr ad-Din, the commander-in-chief, lost one eye. After witnessing his brother’s condition, Nur ad-Din remarked, “If you could see the reward that Allah Almighty has prepared for you, you would wish to lose your second eye in the same way.”
