Saladin's Justice: The Qadi and Muslim Law in Jerusalem

After capturing Jerusalem in 1187, Saladin faced the challenge of restoring Islamic governance to a city that had been under Crusader rule for 88 years. This episode explores how the sultan appointed a chief qadi, or judge, to administer justice according to Sharia law, and how that legal system functioned alongside the existing Christian and Jewish communities. We look at the role of Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, who later became Saladin's biographer and served as a qadi in his court, and the legal principles that shaped daily life in Ayyubid Jerusalem. You'll hear about the qadi's courts, the school of law Saladin favored (the Shafi'i madhhab), and how he handled disputes between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. We also touch on the famous story of Saladin's justice toward a Christian woman whose child was stolen, a tale that reveals the intersection of law, mercy, and politics in his rule. This is a side of Saladin rarely covered: not just the warrior, but the administrator who built a functioning legal system in a contested holy city. #Saladin #Ayyubid #Jerusalem #Qadi #ShariaLaw #BahaAdDinIbnShaddad #IslamicLaw #Shafi'i #Crusades #MedievalJustice #HistoryOfLaw #ReligiousToleration #MiddleEastHistory #FexingoHistory #History #LegalHistory #Sultan #MuslimJurisprudence Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo