Salah ad-Din's contribution to world history began after his spectacular rise to the position of Vizier of Egypt. Following the death of Nur ad-Din, Mosul, Beirut, Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus all submitted to his leadership. Salah ad-Din successfully placed the divided Muslim nations under one banner, then turned his gaze upon the holy lands of Palestine - a region which had known little peace since its invasion by Crusader forces many years earlier. His greatest victory came in 1187 at the famed battle of Hattin, after which he re-took Jerusalem and granted freedom of worship to Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. Salah ad-Din soon returned to Damascus, where he resided until his death in 1193. ABOUT THE NARRATOR Charles Le Gai Eaton embraced Islam in 1951 and is a well known author who has written several books on Islam including 'Islam and the Destiny of Man' and 'Remembering God: Reflections on Islam'. His distinctive and much loved voice has graced many features about Islam and he currently works as a consultant to the Islamic Cultural Centre in London.