![]() Hell is described as a place of fire and torment. Abraham lives in the seventh Heaven in a place made of divine light. ![]() The first Heaven is made of silver and is where Adam and Eve live. Each Heaven is made of a different material, and a different prophet lives in each Heaven. Muslims believe there are seven levels of Heaven, although “seven” is interpreted by some Muslims as simply “many”. Therefore, obeying the rules set by Allah is of ultimate importance. These good actions will be rewarded on the Last Day. ![]() Muslims believe they get to Paradise by living religiously, asking Allah for forgiveness and showing good actions in their life. It is described in the Qur’an as “gardens of pleasure” (Qur’an 31:8). Jannah is Paradise, where those who have been good go. In doing so, he echoed Osama bin Laden’s characterisation of the west, sparking immense controversy.Heaven is described in the Qur’an as a beautiful garden. Meanwhile, in the west, there is an entirely different cultural memory of the crusades – highlighted by US President George W Bush when, after the 9/11 attack, he described the American-launched military campaign dubbed the ‘war on terror’ as “a crusade”. The caliphate was controlled by various dynasties until its abolition in 1924. Sunni Muslims believe that such a leader should be chosen by election Shia adherents believe that the Muslim leader should be a descendant of the Prophet’s cousin Ali. At its greatest extent, the Fatimid caliphate spanned Syria and the Holy Land but by the 12th century it was in decline, and was ousted by Saladin in 1171.Ī caliphate is an Islamic state ruled by a caliph – literally a ‘successor’ of the Prophet Muhammad – the religious and legal leader of the community of believers. In 969, the Fatimids took control of Egypt and founded Cairo. The leader of the Fatimid dynasty, which emerged in north Africa at the start of the 10th century, was regarded by Shia Muslims as the successor to the Prophet, and rightful spiritual leader of the Muslim community. Who were the Fatimids and what is a caliphate? In addition, military defeats at the battles of Montgisard (1177), Acre (1189), Arsuf (1191) and Jaffa (1192) also attracted periodic criticism from Muslims, but such were his diplomatic skills – bolstered by the largely unwavering loyalty of his own family – that these setbacks did not terminally damage his cause. Though the former aim was certainly endorsed by all Muslims, he attracted a lot of criticism for usurping the Zengid dynasty in Syria. Saladin was undoubtedly set upon liberating Jerusalem for Islam, but inextricably linked to this was his determination to create a powerful dynastic empire. In the course of his career, the sultan spent many years in conflict with his Sunni Muslim co-religionists. It is, though, important to recognise that not all Muslims revere, or have revered, Saladin. Multiple forms of resistance emerged, including strikes and boycotts. Demonstrations frequently became violent: protestors threw objects at Israeli troops, who responded with gunfire Palestinians later also used guns. This Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule erupted in Gaza in 1987 and soon spread into the West Bank territories. And though he undoubtedly benefitted from a cadre of eloquent and persuasive literary admirers, the evidence from those beyond his inner circle – even the writings of his enemies – indicates the prominence of these personality traits, and demonstrates that they were central to his success as the leader of the jihad against the Franks, and as a dynastic empire-builder. Over the course of his lifetime, Saladin became famous for his generosity, piety, justice and mercy. Though the victory at Jerusalem is at the heart of his renown, Saladin’s character – or the image formed around his character – is also immensely important. His story is woven into the political, religious and cultural landscape as the man who defeated invading westerners and fought for his faith and his people. Over 800 years later, the sultan commands an extraordinarily enduring reputation across the Muslim world. Following his triumph in this clash againast the crusaders, the sultan captured the holy city of Jerusalem in October 1187 (Heritage Images/Getty Images) Saladin captures the 'true cross' at the battle of Hattin on 4 July 1187, depicted in a medieval illustration.
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