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| Al Qadi al Fadil | |||||
| As a chancellor and advisor to Saladin, the famous twelfth-century judge Al Qadi al Fadil (b.1131- d.1199) had an extensive knowledge of the crusading movement from the perspective of Muslims before, during, and after the Third Crusade. He founded a college of Darb Molokheya in Cairo according to the chronicler Ibn Khallikan. Interestingly, Al Qadi al Fadil also became aware of the talents of the Jewish scholar and physician Maimonides, whom in 1187 he recommended to the court of the last Fatimid Khalif and afterwards to Saladin and his sons as their court physician. Maimonides held the post throughout the rest of his life. Al Qadi al Fadil referred to the Crusade as a "Jihad" and wrote of the crusaders that, "Had the Jihad which the Franks want to accomplish been made with the pure intent of sacrificing on with oneself for a heavenly recompense, nobody would have beaten them in the race to paradise." Also of value was Al Qadi al Fadil's description of negotiations between the crusaders and Saladin at Jerusalem, detailing Balian of Ibelin's role in dealing with Saladin. His description of the geography of the city and its tactical advantages and disadvantages for the Muslim army have also provided scholars with a better understanding of the attack on the city and the developments leading to its surrender. Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia Primary Sources of the Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia Primary Sources and Authors of Primary Source Texts- Crusades-Encyclopedia Saladin- Crusades-Encyclopedia Jihad- Crusades-Encyclopedia Balian of Ibelin- Crusades-Encyclopedia (c) Andrew Holt, June 2005- Permission is granted for copying in electronic form or distribution in print for educational and personal use. No permission is granted for commercial use. |
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