Saladin's Pilgrimage: The Hajj That Shaped a Sultan

In this episode, we explore a lesser-known chapter of Saladin's life: his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1175, just a year after he became sultan of Egypt. Lucas and Luna discuss how this journey was not only a religious duty but a strategic political move. Saladin used the hajj to assert his legitimacy as a Sunni ruler, to connect with the scholarly elite of the Hijaz, and to lay claim to the title of Khadim al-Haramayn (Servant of the Two Holy Sanctuaries). We delve into the logistics of the caravan, the gifts he brought, and the alliances he forged along the way. The episode also touches on how Saladin's pilgrimage contrasted with the Crusader presence in the Holy Land and set the stage for his later jihad. Key figures include the Abbasid caliph al-Mustadi, the sharif of Mecca, and the historian Ibn Jubayr, who encountered Saladin's influence during his own travels. Join us for a journey through the sands of Arabia that reveals the man behind the sultan. #Saladin #Hajj #Mecca #1175 #KhadimAlHaramayn #Ayyubid #Sunni #Abbasid #IbnJubayr #Crusades #Jihad #IslamicHistory #Hijaz #CaliphAlMustadi #Pilgrimage #Medina #MiddleAges #FexingoHistory #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo