or, more properly, BOH-A-EDDYN, an eminent Arabian Writer and Statesman; is better known in the East under the appellation of Ibn-Sjeddad, the son of Sjeddad. He was born at Mossul, in the year 539 of the Hegira. (1145 A.D.) He early became eminent in the study of the Koran, and of the traditions and controversies founded on it, as well as that of Jurisprudence. At twenty-seven, he obtained the place of Repeater or Lecturer at Baghdad; and, soon after, a Professor's chair, in a College, founded at Mossul. In 1187, he made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and then proceeded to visit Jerusalem and Hebron. In passing through Damascus, he was sent for by Saladin, who was then employed in the siege of Kancab. The Sultan seems to have been pleased with the interview; and, his Secretary Omad-Eddyn-Isfahany, a man of great learning and eloquence, advised him, after completing his pilgrimage, to present himself again before Saladin. Our author had observed, as he himself mentions (Vita Saladinii, ch. v.), that the whole soul of the Monarch was engrossed by the war which he was then waging against the enemies of the faith; and, that the only mode of acquiring his favour was, by urging him to its vigorous prosecution. He, therefore, composed a treatise on the Laws and Discipline of Sacred War; and made a collection of all the passages in the Koran and the books of traditions, in which, the extermination of infidels was recommended and enforced. This work, on his return, he presented to Saladin, who received both it and the author with peculiar favour. Bohaddin, from this time, remained constantly attached to the person of the Sultan, Bohaddin and was employed in various important embassies and departments of civil government. That Prince seems also to have sought, by the friendship of so eminent a doctor, to exalt the reputation for sanctity, of which he was extremely ambitious. Often while riding through the ranks, Bohaddin rode by his side, and read to him passages out of the Koran or its interpreters, to which Saladin lent more apparent attention than to the arrangements of the army. Our author was now appointed to two important posts; those of Judge of the Army, and Judge of Jerusalem. In this latter capacity, an incident occurred, which he adduces to prove the impartial justice exercised by the Sultan. A merchant presented himself at the tribunal of Bohaddin, and complained, that he had been unjustly deprived of a large sum of money. On being asked the author of the injury, he replied, "the Sultan himself." Here the Judge deemed it expedient to suspend proceedings, until the case was laid before the royal defendant. Saladin, on learning the circumstances, denied the truth of the charge; but said, that the man should have justice. Accordingly, he was introduced into his presence; the Sultan descending from his throne, placed himself in the posture of a defendant; and each pleaded his own cause before Bohaddin. The latter decided (on just grounds as he alleges) in favour of Saladin; and even hinted, that the temerity of the plaintiff merited some portion of chastisement. The Sultan, however, dismissed the person not only unpunished, but with the present of a handsome robe, and a large sum of money.

Bohaddin continued in favour with Saladin during the whole of that Monarch's life, and boasts, that he often obtained ready admission, while the principal officers and generals were waiting in vain for an audience. After the Sultan's death, he was active in securing the throne to his son, Melik-al-Dhaker. That prince created him Cadhi of his capital, Aleppo, which gave Bohaddin an opportunity of founding in that city a College, of which he himself was the principal Professor. Under his auspices, the sciences, which had greatly declined in Aleppo, soon rose to more than their former lustre. Melik-al-Dhaker dying, left his son, Melik-al-Aziz, a minor, and Bohaddin obtained the principal sway in the Regency. This gave him an opportunity of introducing learned men at court, and loading them with honours. As the prince, however, approached to manhood, he attached himself to more youthful counsellors; Bohaddin, then, though he still retained his offices, found it expedient to retire from court, and devote himself entirely to the pursuits of learning. Even after he was unable to go to college, he continued to give lectures in his own house; and he persevered in these learned labours till the age of ninety, when he died, on the 29th October 1235. (Hegira 633.)

Bohaddin wrote several works on Jurisprudence and Moslem Divinity; but, the only one that can be interesting to us is his Life and Actions of Saladin; which, with several other pieces connected with the same subject, was published by Albert Schultens, at Leyden, in 1732, accompanied by a somewhat inelegant Latin translation; also by notes, and a Geographical Index. This work affords a favourable specimen of the historical compositions of the Arabs. Neither Bohaddin, however, nor any of his contemporaries, can enter into competition with those great historians, who have adorned the better ages of European literature. They display no philosophical views nor accurate discrimination of character; but confine themselves chiefly to a mere chronological record of events. The work of Bohaddin is written with some spirit, and, at the same time, is free from that verbose and empty inflation which deforms the composition of some of his contemporaries. Whatever relates to Saladin, breathes, of course, the highest tone of panegyric; yet, the enthusiasm with which every thing about him is narrated, and the anecdotes which the author, from his own personal knowledge, is able to communicate respecting that extraordinary character, give his work a great degree of interest. (B.)