The Reasons for the Battle of Hattin

Causes of the Battle of Hattin

The Battle of Hattin was influenced by several key factors, including:

• The intervention of Arnault, the lord of Kerak, and his soldiers who attacked a caravan en route from Cairo to Sham, plundering it and capturing all its men. Arnault refused Saladin’s demand to release the captives and return their property, responding, “Tell Muhammad to rescue you.” Upon learning this, Saladin vowed to take revenge and prepared an army to confront them.
• Arnault’s assault on a group of pilgrims traveling through his territory towards Mecca, where he looted their possessions and captured individuals. His subsequent refusal to heed Saladin’s request for their release enraged the latter, prompting preparations for war in the year 586 AH.
• Saladin ended the truce that existed between the Muslims and Crusaders because they had begun to violate it by attacking Muslim caravans and pilgrims. He took steps to unify Egypt and Sham under his command to combat the Crusaders.
• The need to protect the pilgrims passing through Kerak and secure the routes used for pilgrimage in the region.

Overview of the Battle of Hattin

The Battle of Hattin is renowned in Islamic history, taking place in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the year 583 AH. This pivotal battle led to the liberation of Jerusalem and marked the end of the Crusaders’ occupation in the region. Hattin, a location situated between Tiberias and Acre, lent its name to the battle, which was commanded by Saladin.

Outcomes of the Battle of Hattin

The Battle of Hattin had numerous significant effects on the lives of Muslims, including:

• The recapture of Jerusalem and the liberation of several areas in Palestine, resulting in the purification of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restoration of its surrounding structures to their original state.
• The liberation of most territories that had been under Crusader control, leading to the fall of their kingdom in Jerusalem, which left them in a precarious position against Saladin’s forces.
• The decimation of a large portion of the Crusader army, tightening the siege on Tiberias and its fortress, while also facilitating the release of Muslim prisoners in Acre. Saladin effectively expelled the Crusaders from the region.
• The death of Arnault, the leader of the Crusaders, marked a significant victory for Saladin’s forces. Additionally, the news of this defeat led to the death of Pope Urban III upon hearing that Jerusalem had fallen.

Significance of the Battle of Hattin

The Battle of Hattin holds considerable importance for various reasons, including:

• The liberation of Jerusalem and the dismantling of the Crusader kingdom, along with the strengthening of the ties between Egypt and the Levant, restoring relations to what they had been before the Crusader invasions. Saladin’s strategic encirclement of Jerusalem from both land and sea ultimately undermined the defenders’ morale and prompted the inhabitants to surrender, thus coming under Islamic rule.
• Saladin isolated Jerusalem from the north and adjacent areas to cut off land supply routes, while he also severed sea supply lines by targeting Ascalon.
• Saladin capitalized on his victory at Hattin by restricting supplies to Jerusalem and its inhabitants, forcing them to capitulate.
• Saladin instilled fear into the Crusaders by laying siege to the northern side of Jerusalem, employing catapults and archers, reminiscent of the tactics used by their ancestors against Muslims during their initial conquest of the city. Notably, the fall of Jerusalem occurred on the night of the Isra and Mi’raj, in the year 583 AH.

References

1. ↑ Shouqi Abu Khalil (2005), Hattin under the Leadership of Saladin (1st edition), pages 77-85. Adapted.
2. ↑ Islamic University in Medina, Islamic University Journal in Medina, page 197, Volume 28. Adapted.
3. ↑ Safir Encyclopedia of Islamic History, A Concise Encyclopedia of Islamic History, page 27, Volume 13. Adapted.
4. ↑ Muhammad Kurd Ali (1983), Plans of Sham (3rd edition), Damascus: Al-Nouri Library, page 55, Volume 2. Adapted.
5. ↑ Mahmoud Khattab (1998), Between Belief and Leadership (1st edition), Damascus: Dar Al-Qalam, pages 317-318. Adapted.
6. ↑ Ibrahim Al-Huqail (5-11-2007), “The Battle of Hattin,” Al-Iluka, accessed on 28/7/2021. Adapted.
7. ↑ Shouqi Abu Khalil (2005), Hattin under the Leadership of Saladin (1st edition), pages 86-88. Adapted.
8. ↑ General Presidency of Research, Ifta and Guidance, Islamic Research Journal, page 546, Volume 1. Adapted.
9. ↑ Islamic University in Medina, Islamic University Journal in Medina, pages 198-199, Volume 28. Adapted.
10. ↑ Member of the Hadith People Forum (1431), Deaths and Events, page 132, Volume 1. Adapted.
11. ↑ Mahmoud Khattab (1998), Between Belief and Leadership (1st edition), Damascus: Dar Al-Qalam, page 325. Adapted.
12. ↑ Abdullah Al-Tantawi (2001), Major General Mahmoud Shetteh Khattab who Wields His Sword in His Books (1st edition), Damascus: Dar Al-Qalam, page 100. Adapted.
13. ↑ Mahmoud Khattab (1998), Between Belief and Leadership (1st edition), Damascus: Dar Al-Qalam, pages 326-327. Adapted.