Saladin's Taxation Reforms: Funding Jihad Without Crushing the People

After the Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin faced a challenge as great as any military campaign: how to pay for his vast empire without bleeding his subjects dry. This episode explores Saladin's innovative fiscal policies, from overhauling the iqta land-grant system to abolishing non-Quranic taxes instituted by the Fatimids. We delve into the role of his chief financial officer, al-Qadi al-Fadil, who managed the Diwan al-Insha and oversaw a sophisticated treasury that funded madrasas, hospitals, and armies. Learn about the jizya poll tax on non-Muslims, the 'ushr tithe on agriculture, and the controversial customs duties at ports like Alexandria. Discover how Saladin balanced the needs of war with Islamic principles of justice, winning the loyalty of merchants and peasants alike. Through the writings of Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani, we see a ruler who understood that economic stability was the bedrock of his power. This episode reveals the administrative genius behind the sultan's military fame. #Saladin #Ayyubid #IslamicFinance #Jizya #Iqta #AlQadiAlFadil #DiwanAlInsha #Taxation #MedievalEconomics #Cairo #Alexandria #Fatimid #Zengid #BahaAdDinIbnShaddad #ImadAdDinAlIsfahani #Jihad #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo