Standing 56 meters high, the Charminar (Four Minarets) was built by the Qutb Shahi dynasty in the late 16th century. It is located in Hyderabad, India.

The siege of Damascus began on 21 August 634. Even without the necessary siege equipment, the Rashidun armies surrounded the city, denying it supplies until its defenders surrendered. Khalid and his troops entered the city through the eastern gate.

Khalid was a military genius. His execution of this siege was sound enough to capture the city. After the conquest of Damascus, the survivors of the Byzantine army once again met the Rashidun armies in the Battle of Maraj al-Debaj and were defeated again.

Following the abolition of the Rashidun Caliphate, Muawiya bin Sufiyan established Damascus as the capital of his (Umayyad) Caliphate. In the early 8th century, around 706 AD, Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I commissioned the Great Mosque of Damascus, which still stands as a breathtaking testament to Islamic architecture and Syria's rich cultural heritage (as shown in the graphic).

This victory of Salah al-Din in the Horns of Hattin paved the way for the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem (on 2 October 1187). Salah al-Din started the siege of Jerusalem (20 September 1187) two months after his victory at Hattin.

By 1174, Salah al-Din had established himself in Damascus. He then spent the next 8 years uniting the Muslim front against the Crusaders. He also signed a peace treaty with Raymond, Count of Tripoli, for 10 years realizing that this was not the time to fight.

In 1187, the Crusaders violated the terms of the truce by attacking a Muslim caravan. Salah al-Din swore to avenge the blood of the Muslims. This event triggered the inevitable and future Battle of Hattin.

Salah al-Din assembled his large army and on 26 June 1187, reviewed them at Ashtera, in the Hauran (a region that spans parts of southern Syria and northern Jordan). He himself commanded the centre, his nephew Taki al-Din the right wing and Gökböri the left.

On the afternoon of 2 July, the Christians encamped at Sepphoris. On the same day, Salah al-Din attacked Tiberias. When the news reached that Salah al-Din had taken Tiberias, the Crusaders abandoned their camp to go to the relief of the besieged city.

When the dawn broke on Saturday, 4 July, the Crusaders were encircled. The action began at daybreak. The Crusaders were defeated. Salah al-Din spared the life of King Guy telling him that "kings do not kill kings."

Salah al-Din also ordered that none of the Christian lords were to be harmed but that all were to be treated with courtesy and respect during their captivity.

Join our WhatsApp channel
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAByLj8aKvKKilxPi2E

Every year on May 15, Palestinians around the globe mark the day of Nakba, or 'the Catastrophe', referring to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and the near-total destruction of Palestinian society in 1948.

More than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their home. Their homes and villages were destroyed and the Palestinian history was erased.

To this day, this ethnic cleansing and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land, and the destruction of their homes still continue (colored photo from May 2021).

Join our WhatsApp channel
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAByLj8aKvKKilxPi2E

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2XT1oLGrLp5gqMZY/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Saladin conquest of Jerusalem. Read

Facebook

Log in or sign up to view

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.