Al Mualim

"The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share "

―Robert de Sable to Altair

Rashid ad-Din Sinan, known as Al Mualim, is Altaïr's mentor and master of the Assassin's Order.

Biography

Characteristics

Al Mualim is a extremely wise and just leader, however rather unpredictable and mysterious at times. In Masyaf, a discreet city in the mountains, is located the fortress and headquarters of the Syrian sect of Assassins, where Al Mualin spends most of his time studying.

By his efforts, the Order have become a well-known and feared but rather obscure faction, inspiring fear and uncertainty throughout the land and spreading rumors that increased the already legendary reputation of the brotherhood. That've been accomplished by the murdering of important and sometimes "unreachable" persons, on both public and silent assassinations, which made people of power aware of the constant danger they may be running and regular folks somewhat conforted by the fact that there's someone always watching.

Al Mualim does not just stressed political assassination but education as well, as he had thourough understanding and knowledge pertaining from philosophy to science. These wisdown was employed constantly on the people and assassins who seeked his advice, Al Mualim also followed and preached the creed as the main and only way to achieve the brotherhood's goal of peace in all things, and enphasized that this refers to peace within as well. He constantly reminded the assassins, "Never harbor hate for your victims, for such things are poison.", which aided emotional detachment and ensured the dispatching of a target.

The leader of the assassins often employed his "children" as political warriors, directed to fight as the voice of the people throughout the Holy Land, suppressing those who use their power and influence to commit impious acts against society. He rewards success richly, but despises failure and don't abide traitors.

As he reveals little about himself, almost nothing is known about his early life.

Assassin's Creed

"I hold here a list. Nine men adorn it, nine men who need to die. They are plague-bringers, war-makers... Their power and influence corrupt the lands, ensuring that the Crusades continue."

―Al Mualim to Altair

After Altaïr's failure at Solomon's Temple that caused the incapacitation and death of two fellow assassins and caused and attacked by the Templars to Masyaf, Al Mualim demotes him from Master Assassin to Novice, removing much of his equipment and his authority at the order. Altair then goes to earn his status back by killing nine men who support the Crusade from both Catolic and Muslim sides.

After killing the ninenth man, Robert de Sable, the dying target states that Al Mualim was, in fact, a Templar. Altaïr then returns to Masyaf and finds out that people in the city has been put in a hypnotic trance, but he along with some fellow assassins are unaffected by the mind control and make way to the fortress. Reaching the castle, he discovers that Al Mualim was responsible for this by use of the Piece of Eden recovered at Solomon's Temple, and confronts his master. After fighting illusions, Altaïr manages to crave his hidden blade onto Al Mualim, ending the cause of the hypnotic trance. As he dies, the leader of the Assassins says that he did it all to ensure absolute peace in the world, and claims that Altaïr, as him, will not be able to destroy the Piece of Eden.

Final Words

(Al Mualim collapses, dying. The Piece of Eden falls from his hand and rolls away).

Al Mualim: Impossible! The student does not defeat the teacher!

Altaïr: La shaiq' waqee mutlak bl kollin mumkin! (arabic: Nothing is true, everything is permitted).

Al Mualim: So it seems. You have won, then. Go and claim your prize.

Altaïr: You held fire in your hand, old man. It should have been destroyed!

Al Mualim: Destroy the only thing capable of ending the Crusades and bringing true peace!? Never!

Altaïr: Then I will!

Al Mualim: We'll see about that...

Trivia

• He is based on a real person, Rashid ad-Din Sinan, a.k.a. The Old Man of the Mountain.
• "Al Mualim" means "The Teacher" or "The Master" in Arabic.
• It is speculated that Warren Vidic and Al Mualim have similar facial features and may be related, giving that they both act somewhat as "mentor" characters. But this is nothing but supositions and nothing has been stated so far.
• He is voiced by Peter Renaday.