The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin or al-Nawadir al-Sultaniyya wa'l-Mahasin al-Yusufiyya by Baha' al-Din Ibn Shaddad

by Baha' al-Din ibn Shaddad, D.S. Richards (Translator)

Saladin is perhaps the one and only Muslim ruler who emerges with any clarity in standard tales and histories of the Crusades; this is a translation of Baha' al-Din Ibn Shaddad's account of his life and career. Ibn Shaddad (1144-1234) was clearly a great admirer of Saladin and was a close associate of his, serving as his qadi al-'askar (judge of the army), from 1188 until Saladin's death in 1193. His position and his access to information make this an authoritative and essential source for Saladin's career, while his personal relationship with the sultan adds a sympathetic and moving element to the account of his final years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Egypt, Middle East, Islam, Military History

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Bahāʾ al-Dīn Abū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf ibn Rāfiʿ ibn Tamīm (1145 – 1234) was a 12th-century Kurdish jurist, scholar and historian notable for writing a biography of Saladin whom he knew well.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jag kan inte låta bli att jämföra den här boken med Ingemar Lagerströms nyöversättning av Suetonius Kejsarbiografier som är mer lyckad:

Varje kejsarkapitel börjar med en snabb sammanfattning på 1-2 sidor av Lagerström med hänvisning till relevanta kapitel i den efterföljande texten. Själv texten har gott om fotnoter med förklaringar och kontextualisering.

Saladin öppnar med en åtta sidor lång inledning av Mohammad Fazlhashemi. Utöver ett antal kortfattade fotnoter är det väldigt fattigt med kontextualisering.

Den här boken kräver att du har rätt omfattande förkunskaper om den här historiska perioden för att kunna uppskatta den.

Översättningen av Marie Anell är utmärkt.

[Zijad Barucija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although repetitive at times with the chronological anecdotes and stiff language, it is still an incredible depiction from a first-hand source of one of islam's greatest champions and an icon of the Crusades. A must-read for any history nerd!

[Michael Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Glad I finally had the space to finish this gem I found in an Islamic bookstore in Singapore.

[Miso Strbac · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a research book maybe. But to read just if you are interested in Saladin, better to find a biography. This book is so full of small episodes with battles and names that I find it almost impossible to concentrate. Not for me.

[Tracy Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of a short university course I was doing and it helped me get a good grade. The book is a very helpful insight into the crusades from the Muslim perspective.

[Tariq Sheikh]

Blessings of God and Peace be Upon Saladin Ayubi....Good book to read and get knowledge about the brave leader and commander Saladin.

[Muhammad]

Good

[Razibul Islam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know the real history ,you can try it,all time truth

[Tom Radford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone interested in the life of Yusuf bin Ayyub, although it should be remembered that this is very much a panegyrics in style