The author accompanied the Sultan on many important campaigns and watched him at close quarters. So this is the most authentic history on the life of Sultan Salah-ud-din Aiyyoobi. Saladin was the son of Ayub and grandson of Shadi, a Rawadiya Kurd of the great Hadaniya tribe. He was thus of Kurd descent. Several of his bravest warriors and most trusted counselors were Kurds.