Yaqeen Podcast The Victory That Reopened Jerusalem | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 8 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
Jan 28, 2026
Dr. Hassan Elwan, a lecturer and scholar with Yaqeen Institute, tells the drama of Salah al-Din and the Battle of Hattin. He narrates the deliberate lure into the desert, harassment tactics and the climactic trap. He covers the march on Jerusalem, sieges of coastal cities, offers of mercy, and Salah al-Din’s humble, compassionate entry and restoration of holy sites.
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Downhill Charge Into Isolation
- Taqiy al-Din allowed the Frankish knights to charge downhill toward the lake then closed them off, isolating their best fighters.
- Raymond fled with the knights, leaving the exhausted Frankish infantry trapped and demoralized.
Capture Leaders To Collapse Armies
- Hattin's decisive outcome came from capturing enemy leadership rather than wholesale slaughter.
- Hassan Elwan notes that capturing kings and commanders left Frankish cities exposed across the Levant.
Secure The Coast Before Inland Gains
- Secure coastal strongholds before taking inland prizes to prevent enemy reinforcements.
- Hassan Elwan explains Salah al-Din prioritized coastal cities to deny Crusader beachheads before Jerusalem.