Baha ad Din portrays Saladin as a deeply religious man, who loved to listen to recitation of the Koran. Saldin equally enjoyed listening to scholars deliver Hadith for his listening pleasure. Baha ad Din notes that Saladin "...put his whole faith and confidence in God and turned to Him." Baha ad Din also wrote glowingly of Saladin's justice, generosity, and courage, but he especially emphasized Saladin's desire for war against the crusaders.
Of Saladin's chief opponent, Richard the Lionheart, Baha ad Din presented a surprisingly positive portrait of the English Crusader King. Baha ad Din described Richard as "A very powerful man of great courage and spirit He fought great battles and showed a burning passion for war. The King was indeed a man of wisdom, experience, courage, and energy."
The above portrayal of Richard is somewhat curious in light of the author's otherwise deep hostility for other crusaders, whom after referencing them, Baha ad Din usually calls for God to destroy or damn them. For example, on at least a few occasions, when he mentions the Franks, he follows by noting, "God damn them!"
Two useful English translations one can consult for Baha ad-Din's biography of Saladin are Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin, trans D.S. Richards in 2001 or the Palestine Pilgrim Text Society translation by C.W. Wilson, 1897.
Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Primary Sources of the Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Crusades Chroniclers and Authors of Primary Source Texts- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Saladin- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Richard the Lionheart- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Beha ad-Din Richard the Lionheart's Slaughter of Muslim Prisoners- Crusades-Encyclopedia
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