Al-Malik al-Aziz Zahir al-Din Sayf al-Islam Tughtakin Ahmad ibn Ayyub (Arabic: الملك العزيز سيف الإسلام طغتكين أحمد ابن أيوب; also known simply as Sayf al-Islam) was a Kurdish Ayyubid emir (prince) of Yemen and Arabia between 1182 and 1197.
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Early life
Tughtakin was the youngest son of Najm ad-Din Ayyub and his brothers included Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid Empire and al-Adil, the later sultan of Egypt. After Saladin overthrew the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt, Tughtakin acquired lands in the Adawiya district near Cairo that belonged to Christian churches, most likely through force. The area contained yellow clay quarries that were renowned in the region. Tughtakin had houses built in Adawiya as well as the planting of gardens. The former Fatimid head for the Diwan al-Nazar ("Office of Inspection") entered the service of Tughtakin while he was in Egypt.
Emir of Yemen
Following the departure of Tughtakin's brother Turan-Shah from Yemen in 1182 as a result of country-wide rebellions, Tughtakin was assigned the governor, or emir, of Yemen that year. Prior to his appointment, he sent a letter to Saladin seeking the post. Based in Zabid, Tughtakin successfully solidified Ayyubid rule throughout Yemen.
He had a wall with four gates (Saham, Ghulafiqah, al-Shubariq and al-Qurtub) built around Zabid during his reign. At Ta'izz, the major parts of the city's fortress were rebuilt. Under his reign, and that of his predecessor, Aden was the only city in Yemen to mint gold coins. In Mecca Tughtakin had dinar and dirham coins minted with the name of Saladin. The principal commercial transit area for imported goods in Aden was founded by Tughtakin and called Dar al-Sa'ada.