WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.380 Mawaddah Association presents 00:00:09.380 --> 00:00:13.380 It happened in Ramadan 00:00:13.380 --> 00:00:16.739 Id al-Rahman Rafah al-Pasha 00:00:16.739 --> 00:00:21.019 Demolition of the city of Ashkelon 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:26.019 On the beginning of Ramadan in the year 587 AH 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:29.019 He was a Muslim hero 00:00:29.019 --> 00:00:33.020 He holds a large pickaxe with both strong hands 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:37.020 And he will fall upon the fortresses of one of the cities of his nation 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:41.020 A precious pearl of his kingdom 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:44.340 His sons and brothers were with him 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:46.340 And his forces and soldiers 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:49.340 And large numbers of his people 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:55.340 Each of them had a pickaxe in his hand, which he used to attack one side of the city 00:00:55.340 --> 00:00:58.380 As for the owner of the big pick 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:02.380 He is the great hero Saladin 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:06.379 As for the afflicted city, it is Ashkelon 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:12.540 Ashkelon at that time was not one of the remote places from which its companions had fled 00:01:12.540 --> 00:01:17.540 They left it to the elements of nature, which demolished and ruined it 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:21.540 It was not one of the small, dilapidated villages 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:24.540 Which is easy for souls to depart from 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:28.569 And the hands must reach out to destroy it 00:01:28.569 --> 00:01:32.569 Rather, it was one of the largest cities in Palestine 00:01:32.569 --> 00:01:35.569 It is located between Gaza and Beit Jibreen 00:01:35.569 --> 00:01:39.569 And he crouched down on the magician of the Mediterranean 00:01:39.569 --> 00:01:42.569 High peaks, impregnable fortresses 00:01:42.569 --> 00:01:46.569 The giant stops you in the middle of the road between Egypt and the Levant 00:01:46.569 --> 00:01:51.569 The wary worms look at you on the outskirts of the sea 00:01:51.569 --> 00:01:55.629 Ashkelon was filled with majestic beauty 00:01:55.629 --> 00:01:59.629 In addition to its ruined forts, it possesses 00:01:59.629 --> 00:02:05.629 Its towers are clear signs of splendor and beauty 00:02:05.629 --> 00:02:09.629 Until historians called her the bride of the Levant 00:02:09.629 --> 00:02:15.629 It was a title they cherished, and they did not take it off except over her and Damascus 00:02:15.629 --> 00:02:21.759 The demolition of Ashkelon in the hands of Saladin has a long and exciting story 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:26.759 It begins from the era of the Rightly Guided Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.889 And it continues to this day 00:02:29.889 --> 00:02:34.889 Muslims conquered the city of Ashkelon during the reign of Al-Farouq, may God be pleased with him 00:02:34.889 --> 00:02:38.889 That was when he was sent to Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan 00:02:38.889 --> 00:02:43.889 He orders him to conquer Ashkelon and the surrounding coastal cities 00:02:43.889 --> 00:02:47.889 Muawiyah announced the order and conquered the fortified city 00:02:47.889 --> 00:02:52.889 He set up guards over it to protect it from the Roman attacks 00:02:52.889 --> 00:03:00.889 Then groups after groups of honorable companions and great followers flocked to Umm Ashkelon 00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:04.889 Until it became present among the cities of science and religion 00:03:04.889 --> 00:03:07.889 And a habitat for preservation and modernization 00:03:07.889 --> 00:03:11.889 Fortified Ashkelon remained in Muslim hands 00:03:11.889 --> 00:03:14.889 He said five and a quarter centuries 00:03:14.889 --> 00:03:17.889 Take control of the road between Egypt and the Levant 00:03:17.889 --> 00:03:21.889 The sea outlets are blocked in the face of all aggression 00:03:21.889 --> 00:03:25.979 In the year five hundred and forty-eight 00:03:25.979 --> 00:03:30.979 The Crusader invasion swept it away, among other things, from Muslim countries 00:03:30.979 --> 00:03:35.979 Its fall and that of its sister Akka fell into the hands of the Franks 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:40.979 An insult to the throats of Muslims and filth in the eyes of the Mujahideen 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:45.979 This is because from the king of Acre and Ashkelon is the king of Jerusalem 00:03:45.979 --> 00:03:48.979 The road between Egypt and the Levant was cut off 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:55.400 Ashkelon and Acre remained in the hands of the Crusaders for about thirty-five years 00:03:55.400 --> 00:04:02.400 Until God decreed for them to be conquered at the hands of the hero of Islam and Muslims, Saladin 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.530 The day Saladin conquered the city of Ashkelon 00:04:06.530 --> 00:04:08.530 Hope laughed in his chest 00:04:08.530 --> 00:04:13.530 And he possesses happiness that he did not possess with conquest before 00:04:13.530 --> 00:04:18.560 There is no surprise, as Ashkelon will be close to the greatest wish 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.560 It is the wish to conquer Jerusalem 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:25.560 Saladin sent a message to his family in Egypt 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:27.560 Effect of the conquest of Ashkelon 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:32.560 He said in it after praising God and praising Him for what He deserves 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:34.560 We went down to Ashkelon 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:40.560 It is an impregnable stronghold, a fortified fortress, and a lofty mountain 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:44.560 It has such strength that hopes for achieving something like it fall short 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:49.560 We opened it fourteen days after we landed on it 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:52.560 So the flags of monotheism were erected on its walls 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.560 She populated her lands with Muslims 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:59.560 The muezzins spoke loudly in all its regions 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.560 The intention is to head to Jerusalem 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:07.560 If God grants victory and victory, we will return to the city of Tyre 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:09.560 Peace be upon you 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:12.819 Saladin realized after the conquest of Ashkelon 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:16.819 A door of goodness has been opened for him 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:18.819 And he must enter it 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:22.819 He was repeating the words of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him 00:05:22.819 --> 00:05:26.819 Whoever opens a door to goodness, let him seize it 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:29.819 He does not know when it will be closed without him 00:05:31.009 --> 00:05:34.009 At that point, he was with his scattered drunkards 00:05:34.009 --> 00:05:37.009 He united his scattered forces 00:05:37.009 --> 00:05:40.009 He gathered his elite soldiers and his best commanders 00:05:40.009 --> 00:05:43.009 And he aimed for the great conquest 00:05:43.009 --> 00:05:46.199 On Sunday the fifteenth of Rajab 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:50.199 Year 583 AH 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:55.199 Saladin descended on the Crusaders in Jerusalem like the descent of Al-Manun 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:57.199 On the twenty-seventh of it 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.199 The hero liberated the city from the hands of the Crusaders 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:05.199 The largest cross was lowered from the towering rock 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.199 After being in the hands of the Crusaders for more than ninety years 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:13.329 The fall of Jerusalem stirred up Europe 00:06:13.329 --> 00:06:15.329 She got up and did not sit down 00:06:15.329 --> 00:06:18.329 The major incident shook the Pope's chair 00:06:18.329 --> 00:06:21.329 It portends woe and destruction 00:06:21.329 --> 00:06:23.329 He calls for holy jihad 00:06:23.329 --> 00:06:26.329 The men rushed from every direction 00:06:26.329 --> 00:06:29.329 Money flowed from every pocket 00:06:29.329 --> 00:06:32.329 Weapons rained down from every direction 00:06:32.329 --> 00:06:34.389 It was the road to Jerusalem 00:06:34.389 --> 00:06:37.389 It is Akka and Ashkelon 00:06:37.389 --> 00:06:42.620 The Crusaders attacked Acre in an attack unprecedented in history 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:47.620 The Muslims defended it with a defense unprecedented in history 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:51.870 Saladin alone stood against all of Europe 00:06:51.870 --> 00:06:54.870 He and his army achieved it with great effort 00:06:54.870 --> 00:06:56.870 The like of which they have never seen before 00:06:56.870 --> 00:06:59.870 He realized that he would inevitably be defeated 00:06:59.870 --> 00:07:03.870 If a helping hand is not extended to him from the Caliph of the Muslims 00:07:03.870 --> 00:07:06.870 So he sent a message from the fields of jihad 00:07:06.870 --> 00:07:10.870 To the gentle and reassured Caliph in Baghdad 00:07:10.870 --> 00:07:12.870 He said in it 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:14.870 It affected us and our soldiers 00:07:14.870 --> 00:07:17.870 Long period and heavy expense 00:07:17.870 --> 00:07:19.870 And the infidels are supplied by the sea 00:07:19.870 --> 00:07:22.870 The sea provides them with more boats than its waves 00:07:22.870 --> 00:07:25.870 And more abundant soldiers than Agagah 00:07:25.870 --> 00:07:29.870 If Muslims kill one of them on land 00:07:29.870 --> 00:07:32.870 The sea sent an alpha instead 00:07:32.870 --> 00:07:36.899 If a row of them was destroyed, they would come in twenty rows 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:38.899 Then he said 00:07:38.899 --> 00:07:41.899 The king of the Germans has come out to us 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:43.899 And the kings of crosses 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:45.899 And crowds beyond the sea 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:47.899 And crowds of disbelief races 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:50.899 Their father forbade them from everything permissible 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:53.899 And extract from their boxes everything stored 00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:56.899 He dressed them in mourning clothes 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.899 He committed them to the plan of jihad 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:02.899 Until they extract from our hands the tomb of Christ 00:08:02.899 --> 00:08:05.899 And they save the Church of the Resurrection from us 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:07.939 Then follow what he says 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:11.939 This requires us to exhaust the resolve of men 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:14.939 We are depleting our coffers 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.939 It is obligatory for the Caliph of Muslims 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:20.939 To preserve the qibla of his subjects 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.939 And to remove their illness from them 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:24.939 Then he said 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:28.939 Lord, I only have myself and my brother 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:31.939 And now my brother has joined you 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:33.940 And these are my children 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:37.940 The pages have highlighted their faces to your enemy 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:41.940 And it is easy for me, out of love for you, to see the bad in them 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:44.970 Then the Caliph shouted, saying: 00:08:44.970 --> 00:08:49.970 O group of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace 00:08:49.970 --> 00:08:51.970 I will succeed him in his nation 00:08:51.970 --> 00:08:53.970 He gave him the right to them 00:08:53.970 --> 00:08:55.970 And do not delay help from us 00:08:55.970 --> 00:09:00.970 The benefit of relief comes only before the aftermath 00:09:00.970 --> 00:09:04.000 Then he concluded his sad message by saying: 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.000 And after 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.000 For within us, even if time passes, it remains 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:14.000 We pledge to God that we will remain standing 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.000 Until we are victorious or excused 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.000 And that no one should reach Ahmed’s descendants 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.350 There is not a single person left in the descendants of Banu Ayyub 00:09:24.350 --> 00:09:30.350 Saladin's message was not heeded by the Caliph and his men 00:09:30.350 --> 00:09:33.419 It did not reach any conscious minds 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:36.419 The Muslims continued to fight for Acre 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:39.419 Until it fell into the hands of the Crusaders 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:44.419 After the swords were let down, the arms were exhausted, and the resolves were weak 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:48.480 It was a great day for Muslims 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.480 The Crusaders didn't miss the chance 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:53.480 He directed their armies towards Ashkelon 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:56.480 And after Ashkelon, Jerusalem 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:02.480 Saladin found himself unable to repel the Crusaders from Ashkelon 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:07.700 He must make a firm decision in a critical situation 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:11.700 And make firm decisions in critical situations 00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:15.700 Something that only great men can do 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:20.700 Omar bin Al-Khattab made a firm decision in a decisive situation 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:23.700 The day he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr in Saqifa 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:26.700 So the evil was resolved and the matter was approved 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:30.700 Abu Bakr took the decisive decision in the decisive situation 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:34.299 When he decided to fight the obstructionist of zakat 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:37.100 He protected Islam and preserved the religion 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:41.769 Saladin took the firm decision in the decisive situation 00:10:41.769 --> 00:10:43.970 He decided to demolish Ashkelon 00:10:43.970 --> 00:10:46.169 And remove them from existence 00:10:46.169 --> 00:10:50.970 So that the enemy does not take it as a fortress, residence, and departure point 00:10:50.970 --> 00:10:55.259 It was difficult for Saladin to make his decision 00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:59.059 If he was not at the level of an authorized and obeyed leader 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:02.700 It was difficult for Muslims to implement it 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:05.700 If they were not at the level of the leader 00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:09.299 Saladin said the day he issued his decision 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:12.299 I swear to God that I will lose all my children 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:16.899 I love it more than demolishing a single stone from Ashkelon 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:21.879 But this is in the interest of Islam and Muslims 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.080 At the end of Shaban 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.679 Saladin sent his army to hinder the Crusaders' advance towards Ashkelon 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.879 And at the beginning of Ramadan 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:36.480 He raised his shovels to demolish the large, ancient city 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.340 With him were large crowds of Muslims 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:42.740 Then time ran its course 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:47.139 The Muslim swords pushed the remnants of the Crusaders into the sea 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:51.139 Saladin's sons rebuilt Ashkelon 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:54.340 And they inhabited it with their children and descendants 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:59.340 It remained in the hands of Muslims until the Jews took it from them 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.539 They called it Ashdod 00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:06.139 The city is afflicted by its new invaders 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:10.940 Today you are waiting for the liberating leader and the savior hero 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:14.940 Congratulations to the one who will be saved