Salah ad Din or Salâh-ad-Dîn has an area of 15,380 square miles. The estimated population in 2003 was 1.15 million. The provincial capital is Tikrit. Samarra is also in Salah ad Din.

The province is named after Saladin, a hero of the 12th century. He was a Kurdish Muslim from Tikrit, who founded the Ayyubid dynasty of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Mecca Hejaz and Diyar Bakr. He was also renowned in both the Muslim and Christian worlds for his leadership and military prowess tempered by his chivalry and mercy. He fought against King Richard the Lionheart. When Richard was hurt in battle, Saladin offered him his personal physician. When Richard’s horse was killed, Saladin gave him two as replacements. In 1187, when Saladin’s victorious soldiers entered Jerusalem, they were not allowed to kill civilians, rob people or damage the city.