Al Mualim

Al Mualim (English: The Teacher or The Master), also known as Sinan, (died 1191) was the Mentor of the Assassins in the Levant during the High Middle Ages until his death in 1191, and mentor to his successor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. He was also secretly a member of the Knights Templar. It is unknown when he joined the Templars, but it appears in his desire to obtain the Apple of Eden resulted in his covert dealings with the organization. Al Mualim's teachings and work had positive influence on the Assassins, up until his betrayal of the Order in 1191.

Characteristics and Personality
Al Mualim, though known for being a wise and soft-spoken leader, at times showed himself to be mysterious and unpredictable. He never spoke of anything too personal or suspicious about himself, ever changing the subject or giving an unexpected answer when people started questioning him; or as Altaïr said, "digging deeper".

He shrouded not only his Order, but himself in a great cover of secrecy. He revealed little about himself, thus almost nothing is known about his early life, let alone anything beyond his duty as the Master of the Assassins. By his efforts, the Order became a well-known, yet obscure faction, inspiring fear and uncertainty throughout the land, and spreading rumors that only increased the already legendary reputation of the Brotherhood.

As an educated man, Al Mualim placed importance on education, spending much of his time in the Masyaf fortress, studying the books of the library. He had a thorough understanding of a variety of subjects, ranging from philosophy to science. In addition to preaching the Brotherhood's goal of peace in all things, he emphasized that the Creed pushed for peace within as well; on one occasion advising Altaïr not to demonize his enemies: "Never harbor hate for your victims, such thoughts are poison..."