Week 01
The First Crusade – The Fall of Jerusalem
- The Muslim world before the Crusades
- Pope Urban II and the call to Crusade
- The First Crusade, 1096–1099
- The siege and capture of Jerusalem
- The creation of the Crusader states
Coming soonLive · 4 weeks · Beginner-friendly
The Road to Jerusalem
The Crusades and the rise of Salahuddin.
with Ustadh Maheer Hasan
This four-week course explores the Crusades from the fall of Jerusalem in 1099 to its liberation under Salahuddin in 1187. Students will study how division weakened the Muslim world, how leaders such as Zengi and Nur al-Din began the revival, and how Salahuddin united Egypt and Syria before defeating the Crusaders at Hattin.
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Schedule
- Dates to be announced
- Investment
- £20
The course offers an accessible journey through one of the most dramatic periods in Islamic history, focusing on faith, leadership, unity and the struggle for Jerusalem.
Loss → Division → Unity → Liberation
What you'll learn
- Why the First Crusade was launched
- How Jerusalem was lost in 1099
- How Zengi and Nur al-Din prepared the path for Muslim recovery
- How Salahuddin united the Muslim world and liberated Jerusalem
- The impact of the Third Crusade and Richard the Lionheart
- Key lessons from the Crusading period
Who should attend
This is a beginner-friendly cohort — open to all, whatever your starting point.
- Anyone interested in Islamic or medieval history
- Students, educators and lifelong learners
- Those wanting to understand the significance of Jerusalem
- No prior knowledge required
Course outline
4 weeks · Weekly live sessions · Recommended reading: The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf
Week 02
From Division to Unity – Zengi and Nur al-Din
- Muslim political disunity
- Zengi and the recapture of Edessa
- The failure of the Second Crusade
- Nur al-Din's vision of unity
- Preparing the way for Salahuddin
Week 03
Salahuddin and the Liberation of Jerusalem
- Salahuddin's rise in Egypt
- The end of the Fatimid Caliphate
- The unification of Egypt and Syria
- The Battle of Hattin, 1187
- The recapture of Jerusalem
Week 04
The Third Crusade and the Legacy
- Richard the Lionheart and the Third Crusade
- The Treaty of Jaffa
- Later Crusades and the fall of Acre
- The impact of the Crusades
- Lessons of unity, leadership and perseverance
MH
Your instructor
Ustadh Maheer Hasan
History Teacher & Lecturer at Ajnadayn Institute
Ustadh Maheer Hasan brings Islamic history to life through engaging storytelling, clear explanation and meaningful reflection.
Academic pipeline
Live cohorts across Islamic history — enrol in the current term or join the waitlist for what comes next.
£20
Join the The Road to Jerusalem waitlist
A 4 weeks live cohort, coming soon. Register your interest and we'll let you know when dates are confirmed.