Sitt al-Sham


Fatimah Khatun bint Najm ad-Dīn Abu al-Shukr Ayyub ibn Shādhi ibn Marwān, popularly known as Sitt al-Sham, was a second sister of Saladin, probably older than Rabi'a Khatun. She is known for founding Al-Shamiyah al-Kubra Madrasa.

Biography

Born in Damascus, she was the wife of Muhammad ibn Shirkuh of Homs. Some historians are confused regarding her name; they think it to be Zumurrud. His father was called al-Malik al-Afdal as he was a minister with his brother Asad ad-Din Shirkuh in the court of Nur ad-Din Zengi.
She married Umar ibn Lājīn and gave birth to their first child, Husām al-Dīn ibn Lājīn. Her first husband Umar ibn Lajin died shortly thereafter. Then she married his paternal cousin, Muhammad ibn Shirkuh, who was the ruler of Homs.