Mutma'ina
26-07-02, 01:16 PM
Assalamu 'alaikum
Jerusalem, during Muslim rule
By Dr. Azzam Tamimi
In Al Aqsa: Journal concerned with issues on Jerusalem
Vol 1 No 2, April 1999
PART I
Jerusalem was liberated by muslims in Rabi al Akhir of 16 AH (May 637 AD).
The conquest put an end to centuries of instability, religious persecution and colonial rule once by the Egyptians, another by the Greeks, a third by the Persians and a fourth by the Romans. The liberating muslim armies, who had just bought to an end roman rule in al-Sham and consolidated their success with a victory at al-Yarmouk, marched towards Jerusalem and imposed
a siege around it.
Having known of the defeat of his empires army at al-Yarmouk, the Roman governor of the Holy City left its own people to negotiate its surrender to the muslims. Jerusalemites wanted a peace treaty similar to the ones concluded by muslims with the inhabitants of other towns in the region, save for one extra condition - they asked that the leader of the muslims, Umar (ra) be present to take delivery of the city.
As soon as the news arrived in Medina, Umar (ra) prepared for the journey to Jerusalem and asked Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) to take charge of Medina in his absence.
It has been suggested that the insistence on the presence of Umar (ra) emanated from the desire on the part of the leaders of Jerusalemites to ensure that guarantees for the safety and security of christian shrines be given by the most senior figure in the Islamic state.
There is an abundance of historic evidence that the people of conquered regions, and Jerusalem was no exception, had heard of the piety and justice of Umar (ra) and of the strict adherence of muslims to the values they preach. The conduct of the muslims during their conquest campaign convinced many natives that this was not another colonial power.
On the eve of al-Yarmouk battle between the muslims and the Roman army, the Roman commander instructed a native Arab informer to infiltrate the muslim camp and come back o him with a description of their conditions. The informer returned with the most astonishing report. He said:
"I have come to you from a people who spend the night in worship and the day in fasting. They enjoin good and forbid evil. They are priests at night-time and lions at daytime. If their leader were to commit an act of theft they would not hesitate to cut his hand and if he were to commit adultery they
would not stand short of stoning him. They sanctify truth and give it preference over personal desire"
Reportedly, the commander of the Roman army responded by saying: "If such is their description, then the bottom of the earth is better than the top". In other words he feared that people with such description just could not be defeated. To the natives of Palestine, the muslims were a new breed of humans, different from all those who invaded their country before. They watched the new comers as they communicated with each other and as they dealt with their adversaries. The muslim warriors had strict instructions to violate no sanctity and hurt no innocent creature. A farewell admonition from the first caliph Abu Bakr (ra) to one of the departing armies towards Jerusalem read:
"I recommend to you that you fear Allah and obey him. When you engage the enemies and win over them do not loot, do not mutilate the dead, do not commit treachery, do not behave cowardly, do not kill children, the elderly or women, do not burn trees and damage crops, do not kill an animal unless
lawfully acquired for food. You will come across men confined to hermitages in which they will claim to have dedicated their lives to worshipping God, leave them alone. When you engage the pagan infidels invite them to choose between two things. Invite them to embrace Islam. If they dont wish to do that then invite them to pay the Jizyaa (tax paid by a non muslim in a muslim land). If they accept either, accept it from them and stop fighting.
But if they reject both, then fight them."
The lessons native inhabitants learned everyday from the conquering army were crowned with the amazing experience of watching the arrival of the muslims leader from Medina, second caliph Umar Ibn al Khattab (ra). He had with him one companions, not a servant nor a slave, but a friend with whom he shared one camel for the entire journey. The garment Umar (ra) had been
waring was torn and soiled. He took some time to patch it and clean it. He was advised upon his arrival that this was not too an impressive scene for the locals who are used to seeing kings and emperors well dressed and guarded. He answered: "We are a people whom Allah has empowered with Islam. We do not seek the pleasure of other than Allah".
The arrival of Umar (ra) in Jerusalem signalled the beginning of a new era during which the city of Jerusalem became an open city. Only during the times of non muslim rule did the city loose its sanctity and openness. The secret lies in Islam itself.
On the one hand, Islam considers itself an extension of the divine messages that preceded it. All the Prophets (as) that preceded Muhammed and his followers are regarded as muslim. The
followers of Muhammed are ordered to believe in all the previous prophets (as) and to respect them as much as they respect the final prophet Muhammed . The Qur'an calls upon the believers to proclaim:
"Say ye: We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham and Ismail, and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord; we make no difference between one and another of them: and we submit to Allah (in Islam)"
(Quran 2:126)
On the other hand, Islam awards to the followers of both Judaism and Christianity rights, the violation of which is considered a sin. The Prophet Muhammed is reported to have said: "He who harms a dimmi (a non muslim residing in muslim land) is as if he harms me personally."
Although Islam unequivocally condemns those who have altered their own divine messages to suit their personal interests or deny the divine mission of Prophet Muhammed , Islam guarantees the freedom of worship for the followers of both Judaism and Christianity. This is evident in the declaration signed by Umar (ra) upon his entry into the Holy city. He pledged that the muslims should guarantee the security of the inhabitants of
the city, of their wealth, of their churches and of their crosses. He also guaranteed that their churches would not be taken from them nor would they be demolished or undermined in anyway, that none of their possessions would be seized from them and that they would not be compelled to change their religion.
Jerusalem, during Muslim rule
By Dr. Azzam Tamimi
In Al Aqsa: Journal concerned with issues on Jerusalem
Vol 1 No 2, April 1999
PART I
Jerusalem was liberated by muslims in Rabi al Akhir of 16 AH (May 637 AD).
The conquest put an end to centuries of instability, religious persecution and colonial rule once by the Egyptians, another by the Greeks, a third by the Persians and a fourth by the Romans. The liberating muslim armies, who had just bought to an end roman rule in al-Sham and consolidated their success with a victory at al-Yarmouk, marched towards Jerusalem and imposed
a siege around it.
Having known of the defeat of his empires army at al-Yarmouk, the Roman governor of the Holy City left its own people to negotiate its surrender to the muslims. Jerusalemites wanted a peace treaty similar to the ones concluded by muslims with the inhabitants of other towns in the region, save for one extra condition - they asked that the leader of the muslims, Umar (ra) be present to take delivery of the city.
As soon as the news arrived in Medina, Umar (ra) prepared for the journey to Jerusalem and asked Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) to take charge of Medina in his absence.
It has been suggested that the insistence on the presence of Umar (ra) emanated from the desire on the part of the leaders of Jerusalemites to ensure that guarantees for the safety and security of christian shrines be given by the most senior figure in the Islamic state.
There is an abundance of historic evidence that the people of conquered regions, and Jerusalem was no exception, had heard of the piety and justice of Umar (ra) and of the strict adherence of muslims to the values they preach. The conduct of the muslims during their conquest campaign convinced many natives that this was not another colonial power.
On the eve of al-Yarmouk battle between the muslims and the Roman army, the Roman commander instructed a native Arab informer to infiltrate the muslim camp and come back o him with a description of their conditions. The informer returned with the most astonishing report. He said:
"I have come to you from a people who spend the night in worship and the day in fasting. They enjoin good and forbid evil. They are priests at night-time and lions at daytime. If their leader were to commit an act of theft they would not hesitate to cut his hand and if he were to commit adultery they
would not stand short of stoning him. They sanctify truth and give it preference over personal desire"
Reportedly, the commander of the Roman army responded by saying: "If such is their description, then the bottom of the earth is better than the top". In other words he feared that people with such description just could not be defeated. To the natives of Palestine, the muslims were a new breed of humans, different from all those who invaded their country before. They watched the new comers as they communicated with each other and as they dealt with their adversaries. The muslim warriors had strict instructions to violate no sanctity and hurt no innocent creature. A farewell admonition from the first caliph Abu Bakr (ra) to one of the departing armies towards Jerusalem read:
"I recommend to you that you fear Allah and obey him. When you engage the enemies and win over them do not loot, do not mutilate the dead, do not commit treachery, do not behave cowardly, do not kill children, the elderly or women, do not burn trees and damage crops, do not kill an animal unless
lawfully acquired for food. You will come across men confined to hermitages in which they will claim to have dedicated their lives to worshipping God, leave them alone. When you engage the pagan infidels invite them to choose between two things. Invite them to embrace Islam. If they dont wish to do that then invite them to pay the Jizyaa (tax paid by a non muslim in a muslim land). If they accept either, accept it from them and stop fighting.
But if they reject both, then fight them."
The lessons native inhabitants learned everyday from the conquering army were crowned with the amazing experience of watching the arrival of the muslims leader from Medina, second caliph Umar Ibn al Khattab (ra). He had with him one companions, not a servant nor a slave, but a friend with whom he shared one camel for the entire journey. The garment Umar (ra) had been
waring was torn and soiled. He took some time to patch it and clean it. He was advised upon his arrival that this was not too an impressive scene for the locals who are used to seeing kings and emperors well dressed and guarded. He answered: "We are a people whom Allah has empowered with Islam. We do not seek the pleasure of other than Allah".
The arrival of Umar (ra) in Jerusalem signalled the beginning of a new era during which the city of Jerusalem became an open city. Only during the times of non muslim rule did the city loose its sanctity and openness. The secret lies in Islam itself.
On the one hand, Islam considers itself an extension of the divine messages that preceded it. All the Prophets (as) that preceded Muhammed and his followers are regarded as muslim. The
followers of Muhammed are ordered to believe in all the previous prophets (as) and to respect them as much as they respect the final prophet Muhammed . The Qur'an calls upon the believers to proclaim:
"Say ye: We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham and Ismail, and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord; we make no difference between one and another of them: and we submit to Allah (in Islam)"
(Quran 2:126)
On the other hand, Islam awards to the followers of both Judaism and Christianity rights, the violation of which is considered a sin. The Prophet Muhammed is reported to have said: "He who harms a dimmi (a non muslim residing in muslim land) is as if he harms me personally."
Although Islam unequivocally condemns those who have altered their own divine messages to suit their personal interests or deny the divine mission of Prophet Muhammed , Islam guarantees the freedom of worship for the followers of both Judaism and Christianity. This is evident in the declaration signed by Umar (ra) upon his entry into the Holy city. He pledged that the muslims should guarantee the security of the inhabitants of
the city, of their wealth, of their churches and of their crosses. He also guaranteed that their churches would not be taken from them nor would they be demolished or undermined in anyway, that none of their possessions would be seized from them and that they would not be compelled to change their religion.