Saladin's Letter to the Caliph: Justifying Jihad episode artwork

EPISODE · May 2, 2026 · 5 MIN

Saladin's Letter to the Caliph: Justifying Jihad

from Saladin: The Muslim Leader Who Defeated Crusaders — Fexingo History · host Fexingo

In this episode, we explore a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of Saladin's leadership: his famous letter to Caliph al-Nasir in Baghdad, written in 1187 after the conquest of Jerusalem. Lucas and Luna discuss how this document was not just a report of victory but a carefully crafted political and religious statement. They examine its language, its rhetorical appeals to Islamic unity, and its implicit challenge to the Abbasid Caliphate. The episode also touches on al-Nasir's response, or lack thereof, and how this exchange reveals the tensions between Saladin's Ayyubid dynasty and the caliph in Baghdad. Along the way, they delve into concepts like khutba, sikka, and the broader propaganda war of the Crusades. #Saladin #AlNasir #AbbasidCaliphate #Jihad #Jerusalem1187 #Ayyubid #Propaganda #MedievalDiplomacy #IslamicHistory #Crusades #Khutba #Sikka #Baghdad #Quds #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #MiddleEast #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, we explore a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of Saladin's leadership: his famous letter to Caliph al-Nasir in Baghdad, written in 1187 after the conquest of Jerusalem. Lucas and Luna discuss how this document was not just a report of victory but a carefully crafted political and religious statement. They examine its language, its rhetorical appeals to Islamic unity, and its implicit challenge to the Abbasid Caliphate. The episode also touches on al-Nasir's response, or lack thereof, and how this exchange reveals the tensions between Saladin's Ayyubid dynasty and the caliph in Baghdad. Along the way, they delve into concepts like khutba, sikka, and the broader propaganda war of the Crusades. #Saladin #AlNasir #AbbasidCaliphate #Jihad #Jerusalem1187 #Ayyubid #Propaganda #MedievalDiplomacy #IslamicHistory #Crusades #Khutba #Sikka #Baghdad #Quds #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #MiddleEast #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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Saladin's Letter to the Caliph: Justifying Jihad

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This episode was published on May 2, 2026.

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In this episode, we explore a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of Saladin's leadership: his famous letter to Caliph al-Nasir in Baghdad, written in 1187 after the conquest of Jerusalem. Lucas and Luna discuss how this document was not just a...

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