The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars
A Yaqeen original series that provides the roadmap for Muslim unity by looking at the generation that liberated Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa.
Join Dr. Hassan Elwan as he uncovers the lives of pivotal figures from this era. This series reveals the essential roadmap: how the pen guided the sword, and how their collective effort is the key to reclaiming our honor (‘izzah). The solution to the ummah’s current struggle is not in waiting for a savior, but in producing the next Salahuddin Generation.
Episodes
11 episodes of The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars
SERIES FINALE: Salahuddin's Legacy | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 11 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 34 min
He defeated kings. He liberated Jerusalem. He broke the Third Crusade. But in the end — what mattered to him most? Not the throne. Not the cities. Not even Jerusalem. This episode uncovers Salahuddin’s final concern, his greatest desire…
Salahuddin vs. Richard the Lionheart | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 10 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 52 min
After Jerusalem was opened, the world didn’t celebrate — it came for revenge. Europe gathered its greatest kings. Richard the Lionheart arrived with a mind as sharp as his sword. The siege of Acre dragged on for years until both sides were…
One Sultan vs. All of Europe | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 9 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 33 min
Jerusalem was liberated. The ummah celebrated. But Salahuddin knew the truth — the real war was only beginning. Europe’s kings mobilized. Massive armies crossed land and sea. A counterattack unlike anything before was coming. Because…
The Victory That Reopened Jerusalem | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 8 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 39 min
Salahuddin lures the massive Frankish army out of their forts using Raymond’s wife as bait. The Crusaders march into a strategic trap — a desert without water, poisoned wells, and burning shrubs. By the time they realize what they’ve…
The Plot to Dig the Prophet ﷺ’s Grave | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 7 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 34 min
When a pillar of leadership disappeared, the ummah didn’t just face uncertainty— it began to fracture. Division spread quickly: fear, suspicion, propaganda, and leaders willing to bargain away dignity just to survive. Loyalties splintered.…
Salahuddin’s Revolution Begins | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 6 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 40 min
Salahuddin has finally come to power. But ruling Egypt is harder than taking it. As reform begins, the weight of old systems, old loyalties, and unseen enemies presses in. Change is necessary—but it’s dangerous...
The Race to the Nile | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 5 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 35 min
Three thousand riders. One race to Egypt. As the Ismaili dynasty collapsed, Nur ad-Din Zengi had the opportunity to take control of the regional powerhouse: Egypt. Risks, betrayals, and the Crusaders got in the way. Who was standing tall…
How Nur ad-Din Zengi United Sham | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 4 | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 50 min
Imad ad-Din Zengi revives hope by capturing Edessa, but is quickly assassinated, causing new despair. His son, Nur ad-Din, emerges: a king raised by scholars. He shifts the state from power (dawla) to faith (din) and abolishes all unjust…
How Imam al-Ghazali Rebuilt the Ummah | Ep. 3 | The Salahuddin Generation | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 36 min
Leaders were rising—and being buried. But behind the chaos, scholars were laying foundations history rarely credits. This episode reveals the scholarly blueprint that produced Salahuddin—from Ibn Khashab’s urgent resistance to Imam…
Why Jerusalem Fell in the First Crusade | Ep. 2 | The Salahuddin Generation | Dr. Hassan Elwan
· 37 min
Before Jerusalem fell, something else collapsed first. The First Crusade wasn’t won because the Crusaders were stronger or more numerous. It succeeded through discipline, organization, and psychological warfare—while the Muslim world was…
The Rise of the Assassins: The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 1 | SERIES PREMIERE
· 30 min · Episode 1
Before Salahuddin could unite the Muslim world, earlier leaders had to address deep internal divisions. When radical groups like the Qarmatians stole the Black Stone and extremist factions terrorized scholars, visionaries like Nizam…
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Host
Dr. Hassan Elwan
Dr. Hassan Elwan holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio State University. He holds numerous patents and has extensively published in the field of microelectronics. He is currently a Distinguished Engineer at Marvell technology. Dr. Elwan also has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and is currently leading the counseling department at the Rahma Center in Lake Forest, California. He regularly lectures about Islam and spirituality in Southern California and provides professional counseling services to the community that are grounded in both psychology and spirituality.
FAQ
What is The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars about?
A Yaqeen original series that provides the roadmap for Muslim unity by looking at the generation that liberated Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa. Join Dr. Hassan Elwan as he uncovers the lives of pivotal figures from this era. This series reveals the essential roadmap: how the pen guided the sword, and how their collective effort is the key to reclaiming our honor. The solution to the ummah’s current struggle is not in waiting for a savior, but in producing the next Salahuddin Generation.
Who hosts The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars?
The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars is hosted by Dr. Hassan Elwan.
Where can I listen to The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars?
The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Every episode also plays from this page on yaqeeninstitute.org.
How many episodes of The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars are there?
The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars has 11 episodes. The most recent, "SERIES FINALE: Salahuddin's Legacy | The Salahuddin Generation | Ep. 11 | Dr. Hassan Elwan", was released on February 17, 2026.
Is there a video version of The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars?
Yes. This page links to a video version of The Salahuddin Generation: Knights and Scholars under "Watch it".
