Nur al-Din Zangi

Mahmud ibn Zangi ibn Aqsunqur, known as Nur al-Din (Light of the Religion) (511–569 AH / 1118–1174 CE), was the Seljuk governor who united Muslim Syria against the Crusaders. He captured Edessa, Antioch's surroundings, and much of the Levant. He was known as a just and pious ruler who built mosques, madrasas, and hospitals across Syria. His vizier Shirkuh and nephew Saladin (later) completed his work in Egypt. He is credited with creating the unified Muslim state that eventually enabled Saladin to recapture Jerusalem. He built the Nur al-Din hospital (bimaristan) in Damascus, one of the most advanced medical facilities of the medieval world.