Jerusalem Under The Rule Of Muslims.
When we read history we come to know that many believe that Jerusalem fell in the hands of muslims for the first time only in the era of the Caliph Umar(RA).
But the truth is, Adam(pbuh), the first person who is believed to step first in Jerusalem byhimself was a muslim as mentioned in Quran 20:122, 3:33.
The people to whom Jerusalsem actually belongs were muslims…
Nuh(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 66:10, 71:26, 11:45-46, 42:13). Ibrahim(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 42:13, 2:131, 3:65-67). Luth(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 29:26, 6:86). Ismail(pbuh) was a muslim(Al quran 6:86, 2:133). Ishaq(pbuh) was a muslim(Al Quran 2:133). Yaqoob(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 2:133). Yousuff(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 6:84, 12:22). Musa(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 25:35, 7:143, 4:164). Harun(Pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 25:35, 4:163). Dawood(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 2:251, 38:17). Sulaiman (pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 38:30, 2:102). Maryam(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 3:42-43, 66:12). Zakariyah(pbuh) was a Muslim (Al Quran 6:85). Yahya(pbuh) was a muslim (Al Quran 6:85, 3:39, 19:13). Isa(pbuh) was a Muslim (Al Quran 6:85, 5:116-117). Children of Israel were muslims in the beginning (Al Quran 2:132-133). The Jews and The Christians were muslims in the beginning (Al Quran 3:187, 61:14, 5:12-15).
So it is erroneous to say that Jerusalem came under the rule of muslims only when Umar(RA) conquered it. Instead the truth is Jerusalem always belonged to muslims since the first person landed on this earth but in the middle it fell in the hands of non-muslims and was again recaptured by muslims under Umar(RA)’s rule.
The event of recapturing of Jerusalem by Umar(RA) was a beautiful occurrence. I’ll insha allah narrate you some of those beautiful historical incidents about which we – all muslims must surely be aware of.
Jerusalem was ruled by Byzantium christians when Abu ubaidah ibn Al-Jarrah(RA),a companion of Prophet(saw) and army commander of second Rashidun Caliph Umar(RA), seized the city in november 636 AD. Then the patriarch Sophronius accepted to surrender the city to muslims but only when Caliph Umar(RA) comes directly by himself to Jerusalem to get the Keys.
So Abu ubaidah(RA) wrote a letter to Umar(RA) on this issue. Umar(RA) accepted this deal and commenced his journey towards Jerusalem with one servant and one camel. The great caliph didn’t took thousands of milions of soldiers with him instead he took only one servant and began to travel towards the city by having his complete faith on Allah(swt) alone.
When the Byzantine heard about Umar(RA) decision they were so happy that they began the preparation to greet the great Caliph.
Before Umar(RA) begins to travel, he makes a deal with his servant, he said that “on the way there, I’ll ride the half of the time you pull me and then you ride the half of the time and I’ll pull you i.e. 50:50 turns. So when Umar(RA) was reaching Jerusalem, it was the turn of Umar(RA) to pull the servant who was riding on the camel. When they were almost near the servant asks the caliph to switch the turn and requests the caliph to ride on the camel and let him to pull the camel as the top leaders were waiting there and it would not be good if they see caliph pulling a servant. But Umar(RA), whose cloth had 17 patches, refused by saying “Deal is deal and its still my turn to pull”.
Abu Ubaidah(RA)- who was waiting to welcome the Caliph- was embarrassed by seeing Umar(RA) – the caliph – pulling a servant riding on a camel and dressing a cloth having 17 patches. So he went forward and expressed his feelings to Umar(RA). Umar(RA) become upset and replied “We are a people whom Allah(swt) gave dignity through Islam -If we search dignity through things beside islam surely we will get humiliated”. By hearing this Abu- Ubaidah(RA) became silent.
And Umar(RA) moved forward and received the keys of the city from the king Heraclius in April 637 AD. The people of Jerusalem were so shocked when they saw the ameerul mumineen- the caliph- with such a great humbleness and simplicity and it was completely a pleasure surprise for them that in the history of Jerusalem it was first time that Jerusalem has been conquered without shedding any blood within the city.
Then the bishop of the city took the caliph to The Church Of Holy sepulchre. The call for salah came at that time – the bishop requested the caliph to pray in the church for symbolising respect and peace. But Umar(RA) refused by saying that “I fear whether the muslims of future generation will claim this church as mosque because I prayed here and would destroy this church”. So he went out of the church and prayed at a place, few steps away from the church. After 400 years a mosque named ‘Masjid Umar’ was built on the same exact place and is still there now – the caliph was correct!!
And atlast Umar(RA) made an agreement with the people of Jerusalem known as “Pact of Umar(RA)”. Under which Jews and christians were given equal rights of freedom for worship and to follow their religion with complete protection under the rule of Muslims and much more.
And thus again muslims began to rule Jerusalem.
Maharibullah yahya 