The death of Nur Al-Din Zengi created a vacuum for an other powerful muslim leader to protect the muslim ummah from the invading crusaders. This vacuum was filled by Salah Ad-Din Ayubi.

Salah Ad Din Ayubi:

An Nasir Salah Ad-Din Yousuf ibn Ayyub was born in 1137 AD. In 1164 AD he accompanied his uncle Shirkuh in capturing Egypt. After the death of Shirkuh, Salah Ad Din became the ruler of Egypt. And after the death of Nur Al Din Zengi in 1174 AD, Salah Ad Din established a new dynasty named ‘Ayubid Dynasty’ and began furious war against the crusaders.

As a result of this Salah Ad-Din captured many territories and brought under his rule which includes Syria, yemen, Aleppo, and many other.

His remarkable achievement was the capture of Jerusalem. Yes – Salah Ad Din recaptured Jerusalem from christians in 1187 AD. This was a historic movement. He brought an end to the crusade rule in Jerusalem. Not only in Jerusalem but this victory unofficially brought an end to the whole crusaders. This success triggered a sense of fear and failure throughout the Christendom.

The Mercy King:

Salah Ad Din was sooo religious. This made him soo merciful. He was a mercy king. He always loved to show mercy to his fellow people. The capture of Jerusalem was a best example for his mercy.

According to the famous crusade historian Steven Runciman, the mercy and kindness showed by Salah Ad Din while capturing Jerusalem was completely different from the cruelty done by crusaders while capturing the city.

yeahhh!! When Christians captured Jerusalem in 1099 AD, they ruthlessly massacred thousands of innocent muslims of the city. But when Muslim leader Saladin captured the city – the situation was completely different. He turned to be merciful towards the christians of Jerusalem.

When christians captured the city they mercilessly killed and destroyed the thousands of innocent muslims of the city. But when muslim leader Salah Ad Din captured the city, he allowed the eastern native christians to stay in Jerusalem. The western christians were allowed to move to their native by paying a little tax amount. Many poor christians were not able to pay the taxes. Christian rulers denied to pay taxes to release their own fellow poor christians. The poor christians who believed their christian rulers were abandoned by their own leaders. But these abondoned poor christians were shown mercy by Salah Ad Din. Salah Ad Din payed taxes for these people from his own money. He payed for about 10,000 poor christians. His brother Al Adil payed taxes for about 7000 poor christians from his own money. And all the western christians were alowed to take their belongings with themselves.

Salah Ad Din’s mercy was the reflection of his love towards Islam.

Who was the God’s army?

When the christian crusaders captured the city – Jerusalem they showed their complete cruel behaviour. They killed thousands of innocent muslims. They filled the streets of the city with the blood of innocent muslims. They insulted masjid al aqsa. They were completely cruel. They were merciless.

But when Umar(RA) captured jerusalem, not even a single drop of blood was shed inside the city. Every people was given respect. Everyone were treated respectfully. The church of holy sepulchre was treated with respect. Also when again Salah Ad Din captured the city, the people were shown mercy. The muslims gave respect to their religion, to their lives, to everything.

These behaviours of these two parties clearly shows us – who were the army of God.

God loves mercy. He hates cruelty. He loves respect. And these characters were only possesed by Muslims. So this clearly proves that Muslims were the army of God.

While the Crusaders were such a cruel people- they were merciless creatures. For sure they were not the army of God. They were the associates of Satan. Because satan loves cruelty. He is merciless.

May Allah(swt) show his rahmah on God’s army.