Throughout Ramadan we are publishing articles about historical moments that took place in this blessed month. We present to you the Battle of Hattin that paved the way for Muslim forces, led by Salahuddin, to reconquer Jerusalem.

The Battle of Hattin took place in the month of Ramadan in 1187 between the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Muslim forces under Salahuddin al-Ayyubi.

It was about this battle that Imam Dhahabi said ‘This was the greatest victory for the Muslim since Khalid ibn al-Walid defeated the Romans at The Battle of Yarmouk’.

The rightly guided caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab initially conquered Jerusalem in 637; but when Pope Urban II in Rome declared the Crusades in 1095 to bring the Holy Land under Christian rule, Jerusalem was savagely taken from the Muslims only four years later.

The Crusaders massacred over 70,000 Muslims and Jews and for the first time since the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab there was no adhan and no prayer in the mosques of Jerusalem.

Muslim leaders of the time were weak, disunited and only interested in fighting with neighbouring Muslim rulers.

It was in this background that Salahuddin al-Ayyubi appeared, quickly rose to power to become the ruler of Egypt (after defeating the Crusaders who tried to take Egypt) and then toiled to unite the warring Muslim states. His ultimate aim? To liberate Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

By the early 1180s Salahuddin effectively ruled both Syria and Egypt and was preparing an army ready to liberate Jerusalem. His chance came when the peace treaties between him and the Crusader Kingdom was repeatedly broken, with the final provocation being led by Reynald de Chatillon (Lord of Karak).

It was the 2nd of July 1187 when Salahuddin marched to Tiberias and laid siege to its Crusader fortresses. Appeals for help reached Jerusalem and the Crusader King, Guy of Jerusalem, immediately ordered the Crusader army to march to Tiberias to fight Salahuddin.

On the 3rd of July, whilst making the final march to Tiberias the Crusader army was constantly attacked by the Muslim forces until they were forced to make camp on a plateau without water and without any hope of retreat (as Muslim forces had also blocked their line of retreat). The constant harassing of the Crusader army in mid-summer heat meant that they were thirsty, demoralised and exhausted.

On the morning of 4th July, the Crusaders were blinded by smoke that came from the grass that was set alight the previous night by Muslims; they broke camp and moved for the springs of Hattin but were again attacked by showers of arrows by Muslim forces  that had come to Salahuddin the night before. Thus began the battle of Hattin; despite Crusader charges on the Muslim army they were eventually completely surrounded and defeated. Salahuddin had vowed that he would kill the truce-breaker Reynald de Chatillon with his own hands; this he kept when Reynald was captured and brought to Salahuddin on the battlefield.

The battle of Hattin paved the way for the liberation of Jerusalem; within 3 months Jerusalem was re-conquered by Salahuddin. Where the Crusaders massacred thousands of Muslims and Jews to take Jerusalem in the first Crusade, Salahuddin was magnanimous and let them go peacefully with all their belongings if they paid a small ransom and those who couldn’t pay went completely free.

It is a testament to the Justice of Allah (SWT) that when a righteous servant leads with sound Islamic principles He makes the world subservient to him; and when his servants unite for a just cause His help comes to them inevitably.

Salahuddin was a devout Muslim who never missed his salah and believed it was his Islamic duty to defend Muslims against the Crusaders and often despaired at the apathy of his contemporary Muslim rulers in fulfilling this sacred duty.

He understood the need for unity in fighting the Crusaders and spent more years fighting his fellow Muslim rulers so that they were united in a common goal than he did in fighting the Crusaders. It is said that when someone asked Salahuddin why he was not seen to laugh, he replied “How can I laugh when Masjid al-Aqsa is under the control of the Crusaders?”

But he never gave up; he struggled and remained firm in his belief and in his actions. And so Allah made one state after another subservient to his rule until Allah helped him with the greatest help in re-conquering Jerusalem.

The weakness and apathy of the Muslim rulers of Salahuddin’s time are not dissimilar to those of our times. But if there is anything we can learn from the struggles of Salahuddin it is that we must never give up and only when we are firm in our belief and actions will Allah’s help come.

And Allah reminds us of this in the Holy Qur’an:

“And to help believers is ever incumbent on Us”
(Surah Al-Rum: 47)

References for further reading:
Book: Saladin –The triumph of the Sunni revival. A.R. Azzam
Book: Salah ad-Deen al-Ayubi. Dr Ali M Sallabi
Webpage: https://lostislamichistory.com/the-crusades-part-3-liberation/
Webpage: https://www.battlemaps.eu/battles/hattin.html 

—

This Ramadan, please donate to MPACUK to help us take on the Islamophobia Industry. Your money will allow us to do more for our community. Donate via this link – mpacuk.org/donations

You can also donate via our MuslimGiving page – www.muslimgiving.org/Stop-Islamophobia

Jazaakallah

Save