Salahuddin's Alliance

Saladin and the Fall of the Shia Fatimid Caliphate

Saladin, a Sunni Muslim of Kurdish origin, arrived in Egypt in 1169 as part of a Syrian military expedition sent by the Sunni Zengid ruler, Nur al-Din, to support the weakening Shia Fatimid Caliphate against Crusader threats.

The Political Situation: The Fatimid Caliphate, based in Cairo, was Isma'ili Shia and represented a rival Islamic caliphate to the Sunni Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. By the 1160s, it was politically weak, with real power held by competing viziers.
Saladin's Rise: Saladin swiftly maneuvered himself into the position of vizier. Although he nominally served the Fatimid Caliph, al-Adid, he began systematically weakening the Fatimid establishment.
Abolishing the Caliphate: When the last Fatimid Caliph, al-Adid, died in 1171, Saladin immediately abolished the 200-year-old Fatimid Caliphate. He replaced Friday sermons in mosques to mention the name of the Sunni Abbasid Caliph instead of the Fatimid one. This was a definitive political and religious act that restored Egypt to Sunni Islam.
Disbanding the Army: He disbanded the Fatimid military, which was largely composed of Shia and Sudanese regiments, and replaced it with his own Sunni Kurdish and Turkish forces.

In this context, Saladin absolutely "fought" the Shia Fatimid political and military structure and was instrumental in destroying it.

Did He Persecute Shia Muslims?

This is where it gets more complex. Saladin's primary goal was not a sectarian purge of the Egyptian population but political consolidation and unifying the Muslim front against the Crusaders.

Pragmatism Over Persecution: While he ended Shia political rule, he did not initiate a widespread inquisition or genocide against the Shia population of Egypt. His focus was on securing his own power and redirecting Egypt's resources toward the jihad against the Crusaders.
Focus on the Military and Elite: His actions were targeted at the structures of power—the army, the treasury, and the religious institutions. The general population, which was a mix of Sunnis, Shias, and Christians, was largely left to its own devices as long as it did not challenge his rule.
Comparison to Others: Saladin was far less sectarian than some of his contemporaries, like the Zengids or later the Mamluks. He is not recorded as engaging in the kind of violent persecutions seen elsewhere in Islamic history.

His Relationship with Shias After Consolidating Power

Once his rule in Egypt and Syria was secure, Saladin's policy was generally one of inclusion for all who would support his cause against the Crusaders.

A Broad Coalition: To fight the Crusaders, Saladin united armies from various Sunni and Shia backgrounds. His forces included Sunnis from Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, as well as Shia Muslims from other traditions (like Twelver Shias) who were not affiliated with the defeated Fatimids.
Alliances with Shia Leaders: He famously formed strategic alliances with powerful Shia leaders. The most notable example was Imad ad-Din Zengi of Sinjar, a Shia ruler who fought alongside Saladin at the pivotal Battle of Hattin.
The Goal of Unity: Saladin’s overarching objective was the unity of the Muslim Ummah under his command to liberate Jerusalem. While he insisted on Sunni Abbasid legitimacy, he was pragmatic enough to welcome any military support, regardless of sect.

Conclusion

To summarize:

Yes, he fought them: Saladin decisively fought and dismantled the Shia Fatimid Caliphate and its military apparatus in Egypt on behalf of his Sunni Zengid patrons and the Abbasid Caliphate.
But not a genocidal campaign: He did not wage a widespread sectarian war against ordinary Shia Muslims. His focus was on seizing political and military control.
Pragmatic leader: After securing power, he set aside sectarian differences and formed alliances with Shia rulers when it was politically and militarily advantageous, especially to achieve his ultimate goal: defeating the Crusaders and recapturing Jerusalem.