The History Of Jerusalem in the Ayyubids and Mamluks age
The Ayyubid Era
Introduction:
– In the minds of Muslims, the liberation of Jerusalem is associated with An-Nasir King Yusuf bin Ayyub, because he led the Muslim Army to liberate the city. Imad Ad-Din Zinki put this plan, and lived his life chasing and fighting the Crusaders.
– After the death of Noor Ad-Din, many people thought it was over, and the Crusaders rejoiced.
– The princes in the house of Zinki disputed over the next Caliph. Later, some people appealed to Saladin, who reunited the nation and ended divisions. Regarding the way of ruling, he followed an approach similar to Noor Ad-Din’.
– He had this tendency to spare Muslims’ lives. After he united the Levant, he pulled the Crusader thorn out of the Muslim body, and ended their existence in the Holy Lands.
Saladin’s Plans
– Saladin made sure to achieve the Islamic unity, and made an effort to include a huge part of the Arab World under to the lands he was ruling.
– Due to this unity, he had money, men, and huge amount of ordnance, which enable him to stop the Crusader masses.
– In 583 A.H., Saladin wrote to the whole country ordering people to prepare for Jihad, and so he had a very strong army that fought with him on his way to Jerusalem.
– These battles paved the way to liberate Jerusalem.
Saladin’s Battles on His Way to Liberate Jerusalem
– Hittin Battle: it’s one of the most distinguished battles in the history of Muslims, and represents a glorious page in the book of this nation. It served as a bridge to cross into Jerusalem
– The Liberation of Tiberias Castle: Saladin freed this castle after winning Hittin Battle, which shook the Crusaders’ confidence. He besieged the castle until those in it gave in.
– The Liberation of Acre: Saladin and his army marched to Acre after the liberation of Tiberias Castle. He arrived in it and took it over peacefully. He took what was left from the kings’ quotients and ammunition, and saved the Muslim prisoners.
– The Liberation of Jerusalem: the greatest kings and the Christians who escaped from Hittin Battle came together in Jerusalem. They prepared themselves as much as they could to prevent Muslims from taking over Jerusalem, and so they fortified the city. Saladin spent days exploring the areas around the city, to figure out the weak point. He found it west of the city, and started a siege. It lasted for 12 days, until there was a gap in the northeastern corner. The commander of the Crusader garrison in the city asked for conciliation. Saladin agreed, and the city was freed on Friday, 27th of Rajab.
Saladin’s Arrangements in Jerusalem
– After the liberation, he started cleansing Al-Aqsa Mosque and the whole city, to restore its Islamic nature.Following are some of what he did.
– Removed the big Cross the Crusaders hanged on top of the Dome of the Rock
– Dug a deep tunnel around the city, and reconstructing the wall
– Ordered getting all the buildings to the way they were before the occupation
– Ordered constructing the pulpit
– Ordered the maintaining Al-Aqsa Mosque and restoring its engravings
The Ayyubid Era after Sultan Saladin:
– After the death of Saladin, the leaders disputed over handling authority matters. Knowing that, it seems that Jerusalem was at risk from very early time.
– The nation was getting weaker once again. The walls of the city were destroyed, and Crusaders took over Jerusalem again.
– Later, King Issa drove the Crusaders out of the city. The conflict went on and Jerusalem was one again occupied by the Crusaders, until 643 A.H., when Al-Malik As-Salih Najm Ad-Din expelled the Crusaders, with the help of the Egyptian people, and took Jerusalem back.
he Most Important Ayyubid Archeology that is Still in Al-Aqsa Mosque Until Today:
– Al-Nahwiyyah Dome
– The horizontal court in front of Al-Qibli Mosque
– An ablution place
– The restoration of Al-Mi’raj Dome
The Mamluk Era
Introduction:
– The Mamluk time is considered the golden time for Jerusalem.
The city witnessed a remarkable boom, its population increased, and the knowledge activities thrived. Also, schools, domes, and pedagogical terraces spread everywhere, and, in general, prosperity pervaded.
– The Mamelukes loved the city and gave it much of their time and effort. Most of what we see in the city dates back to the Mamluk era.
– The Mamluk decoration and construction in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially in the Dome of the Rock, of the most beautiful arts the Holy City has ever witnessed.
The Mamluk History
– The Mamluk era lasted 270 years; spanning from 648 A.H. to 922 A.H. during this time, the cultural and architectural activities thrived in Jerusalem.
Most Prominent Achievements of the Mamelukes in Al-Aqsa Mosque:
– Sultan Mohammed bin Qalawoun As-Salihi restored Al-Qibli Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, where he added a lot of ornaments.
– The work of Sultan Al-Ashraf Qait Bay in Al-Aqsa. He built Al-Ashrafiyyah School and Qait Bay Spring.
– A lot of sites the Mamluk sultans and rulers designated as Waqf in Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Remaining Mamluk Archeology in Al-Aqsa Mosque till Our Time:
– Bab Al-Qatanin.
– Qait Bay Spring.
– The western court in the mosque.
– Schools all around the mosque.
After the Mamluk State:
– In Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the thriving architectural activities expanded a lot during the Mamluk time, and remained as such until the time when the Mamluk State started to get weak.
– That was after the death of Sultan Al-Ashraf Qait Bay. During that time, many taxes were levied, and people got sick of them, until 922 A.H.