A golden chapter of Islamic history: Sultan Nur al-Din in Eng-6

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A golden chapter of Islamic history: Sultan Nur al-Din in Eng-6

❤ A Golden Chapter of Islamic History: Sultan Nur al-Din Zangi ❤

Al-Malik al-Adil Nasir Amir al-Mu’minin Abu al-Qasim Nur al-Din Mahmoud bin Abu Said Imad al-Din Zangi.

Sultan Nur al-Din was a devout worshiper who spent his nights in devotion and his days in the battlefield. Despite being the ruler of a grand empire, he lived a humble life, with his nights spent in prayer and his days in jihad. He was a symbol of greatness and character, who, with his sword, wrote a bright chapter in the history of Islam. Sultan Nur al-Din used to spend most of his night in worship and supplication. After the Isha prayer, he would pray many extra rak’ahs and then lie down briefly after sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) hundreds of times. After a short rest, he would rise for the Tahajjud prayer and continue in his worship until morning, filled with humility and devotion.

It was because of this dedication that when the Jews conspired to remove the blessed body of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from his sacred tomb, Sultan Nur al-Din Zangi saw the Prophet (PBUH) in his dream. According to some narrations, the Prophet (PBUH) appeared to him for three consecutive nights. Each time, the Prophet (PBUH) pointed to two men and said, “Nur al-Din! These men are troubling me. Eliminate their harm.” Sultan Nur al-Din was deeply disturbed by these dreams. He would repeatedly seek forgiveness and cry out, “It is impossible for anyone to trouble my master, the Prophet (PBUH), while I am alive. My life, wealth, family, and children are all devoted to the Prophet (PBUH). May Allah not keep me alive for the day when the Prophet (PBUH) would remember his slave and I sit idly in Damascus.” Sultan Nur al-Din became restless, realizing that something terrible must have happened in Madinah that caused distress to the sacred soul of the Prophet (PBUH).

Waking up from the dream, he immediately set out with a few companions towards Madinah. Typically, it took about 20 to 25 days to travel from Damascus to Madinah, but Sultan Nur al-Din covered the distance quickly and reached Madinah on the 16th day. Upon arriving, he ordered that the two traitors be executed and a deep trench be dug around the Prophet’s tomb to protect it. The trench was so deep that water began to seep from the earth, and it was filled with molten lead to ensure its protection from the ravages of time. This lead barrier still surrounds the Prophet’s tomb today and, God willing, will remain intact forever.

Sultan Nur al-Din Zangi was one of the few leaders of the Islamic world whose character resembled that of the early Muslims. Undoubtedly, he was a lion in battle and a devout worshiper by night. Tall, with a dusky complexion, a broad forehead, and attractive features, this warrior was a paragon of honor and chivalry. There was no arrogance in his demeanor, only kindness and sweetness. His face was naturally almost beardless, with just a few hairs that gave his dignified appearance a noble look. Despite his majestic presence, even the greatest of emirs would be silent in his presence, and his enemies trembled at his name, even from hundreds of miles away.

During this time, Sultan Zangi’s empire was one of the largest in the Islamic world. In addition to Syria, his name was mentioned in the Friday sermons in the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina. In the final year of his life, after Turan Shah took control of Yemen, the Abbasid Caliphs’ name was included in the Friday sermons there as well. In truth, this ascetic ruler ruled the hearts of all Muslims. Prayers were offered for him day and night in every mosque and home. His bravery was such that he never hesitated to personally join the battles and engage in hand-to-hand combat. He would carry two bows and a quiver of arrows, showering his enemies with arrows as he advanced.

The famous historian, Al-‘Asad ibn Athir al-Jazari, acknowledged the virtues of Sultan Nur al-Din, stating: “Among the past kings, except for the Rashidun Caliphs and Umar bin Abd al-Aziz, I have found no ruler with better character than Nur al-Din Mahmoud, who strove for justice and the establishment of righteousness.”

He also said: “He used to pray many extra prayers at night, and he was well-versed in the teachings of Imam Abu Hanifa. He would listen to Hadith and share them with others for the reward of Allah.”

This ascetic ruler conquered more than 50 cities and fortresses during his lifetime, although his greatest dream was to liberate Jerusalem, for which he had even prepared a magnificent plan. However, it was not God’s will to see this come to fruition.

Despite his high status and achievements, Sultan Nur al-Din was so humble that he only took a stipend from the state as needed. When his wife complained about their expenses, he transferred three of his shops in Homs to her name, generating an annual income of 20 dinars. When she later complained again, he replied: “This is all I have, and the rest belongs to the Muslims. I am merely a treasurer for their wealth, and I do not want to betray them for your sake and burn in the fire of Hell.”

Despite his greatness, he never hesitated to throw himself into the front lines of battle, even at the risk of his own life. One day, the famous scholar Qutb al-Nashawi said: “For the sake of God, do not put yourself in danger. If something were to happen to you, there would be no one left to protect the Muslims from the enemy’s sword.” Upon hearing this, Sultan Nur al-Din Mahmoud responded sharply: “What is the status of Mahmoud, for anyone to speak in this manner? Who is protecting these cities and Islamic landmarks, if not Allah alone?”

This great warrior and servant of Islam lived for 58 years and passed away on the 13th of Shawwal, 569 AH, leaving behind a grieving Muslim Ummah. Sultan Nur al-Din suffered from a disease called Khawaniq (a respiratory illness), which eventually caused his death. Some people claim he was poisoned, but there is no truth to that.

After his death, Sultan Nur al-Din left his son, al-Malik al-Salih Ismail, as his successor. There is a book titled The Story of the Faithless Traders that contains many false accusations and slanders about him, which I will address separately in another article.

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