IBN SAUD

Ibn Sa'ud Camera Press Ibn Shaddad born 1145, Mosul, Iraq died 1234, Aleppo, Syria in full Abu al-Mahasin Yusuf ibn Rafi' ibn Shaddad Baha' ad-Din Arab writer and statesman, author of the Sirat Salah ad-Din (Life of Saladin). He was first a teacher at Baghdad and then professor at Mosul. In 1187, after making the pilgrimage to Mecca, Ibn Shaddad entered the service of Saladin, who was waging war against the Christians in Palestine. Ibn Shaddad sought Saladin's favour by urging him to the vigorous prosecution of this war and presented him with his treatise on the laws and discipline of sacred war. He remained constantly devoted to Saladin and was employed on various embassies and in departments of the civil government, being appointed judge of the army and judge of Jerusalem. After Saladin's death Ibn Shaddad remained the friend of his son Malik az-Zahir, who appointed him judge of Aleppo. There he employed some of his wealth in the foundation of colleges. When Malik az-Zahir died, his son Malik al-'Aziz was a minor, and Ibn Shaddad had the chief power in the regency, using it for the patronage of learning. He lived in retirement after the abdication of Malik al-'Aziz.