Q2: Who was Salah al-Din Ayyubi? How did he become the champion of the wars against crusaders? What was his origin? Why and how did he destroy the Fatimid government?
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Answer:
Salah al-Din Yusuf bin Ayyub who later became known as Salah al-Din Ayyubi, better known in the Western world as Saladin, is one of the most famous Muslim rulers and commanders in the Islamic middle centuries (or in the 12th century of the English calendar). He achieved many military successes and conquests for Muslims and protected Islamic territories against European Christians. As a consequence of the siege of Cairo by crusaders, Asad al-Din Shirku, Salah al-Din's uncle commanding an army of six thousand soldiers moved to Egypt while Salah al-Din was also in his company. Upon his arrival, the Christians who intended to take over Egypt left the country and that was how the Ayyubids took over Egypt.
Two months later, Asad al-Din Shirku died and Salah al-Din replaced him and took over the reign of the government in Egypt. After Salah al-Din climbed high ranks of the Fatimid government, Salah al-Din began to undermine the Fatimid establishment to such an extent that the Fatimid caliph was left powerless and that in practice nothing except its name was left. Few years later, he took over the government and realigned the country's allegiance with the Baghdad-based Abbasid Caliphate. That was how the Fatimid government in Egypt was replaced with the Ayyubid one.
Salah al-Din was strongly opposed to the Shiites of Egypt. Destroying Shiite symbols and rites, he made every effort to exterminate Shiites in the country. He was sometimes lenient against Christians but harsh and intolerant against Shiites. He endeavored greatly to promote Shafe'ei jurisprudence doing whatever he could to replace Ismaili Shia with Shafe'ei religion.
Salah al-Din's reputation basically originates in his performances in the wars against crusaders. Salah al-Din designated strong and capable men in different cities. He consolidated the fortifications of the cities so as not to allow foreigners to take them. Moreover, he carried out attacks on cities in the Levant (Shaam) which had been occupied by foreigners taking them back, conquering them or making crusaders flee. In less than five years, he took over many cities. More importantly, he defeated Christians and conquered Bait al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) which earned him a lot of respect and reputation.
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