Message #4118

[N. Truth Seeker]

Assalam Alaykom sister zeynab.  It was one of those few relaxing Sundays for me so I just finished watching the fantastic videos on history you posted - 'Islam, Empire of Faith' and 'Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain.'  Absolutely superb! 

This part of our history also brings to my mind the movie Kingdom of Heaven.  I wonder if you saw it.  This movie was made by Ridley Scott, producer of 'Gladiator.'   The movie was about the battle of Jerusalem between Christians and Muslims.  According to one review of this film, "for the 100 years leading up to the action, both Christians and Muslims were content to see each other worship in the holy city. It was only when Christian zealots determined to control the Holy Land more rigidly that things went wrong."  Jerusalem was ruled by King Baldwin who had leprosy and concealed his disfigured face behind a mask.  His army of zealots wage war on the Muslims.  General Saladin the great leads a Muslim army against them, and the Christian forces eventually surrender the city to him.  "Much bloodshed and battle are avoided."  Saladin gives the Christians a free choice to decide whether or not they want to stay in Jerusalem.  Such leniency toward defeated and treacherous enemies was unique in those days, and unheard of today.  It's certainly a far cry from the horrific treatment received by the Iraqi civilians after the 2003 invasion of Iraq by America and Britian.  General Saladin's battle line was so much superior to that of his opponents.  He could have done anything he wanted.  There was nothing to stop him from destroying all Christian settlements in Jerusalem.  Instead he offered them full security and such humane treatment that's rare even in modern times .... or should I say, particularly in modern times.  Not to mention, Saladin's decision of allowing the Christians to leave if they so wished meant that they were free to carry out attacks against the Muslims in Jerusalem in future.  Yet, Saladin kept his word and allowed them to go free.

Thanks again for the enthralling movies