The Mosque of Umar
𝑨𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕 would be hard put to know who was who. From their simple robes to the donkey they travelled upon, taking turns to ride as the other walked beside. This was how they crossed Arabia and al-Shām, to arrive in Jerusalem; no chariots or a procession.
It wasn’t what the Greek Orthodox patriarch Sophronius had expected when he saw the great leader arrive. When the new emerging power defeated Byzantine to claim Jerusalem, only into the hands of its great leader would Sophronius surrender and relinquish the key to the Holy city.
So it was, at Sophronius’ request that Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) arrived thus in Jerusalem; to be shown around the Holy city and receive its key.
When they reached the Holy Church of Sepulchre it was time to pray. Sophronius offered Umar (ra) a space in the church for the Muslims to pray, but Umar (ra) refused. He feared doing so could possibly endanger the status of the church, as future generations of Muslims may seek to make the site a permanent place of worship. Instead, the Muslims cleared a space outside the church and prayed there.
Humans have a tendency to be drawn to bricks and mortar and at times some care more for it. However whilst there’s no doubt of the sanctity of masjids, the blessed lands or sacred Kaaba itself, yet the blood of the believers and their property is dearer to Allah as is also the sanctity of human life and rights as a whole.
In Islam, human life and property are rights to be protected- a mark of an enlightened civilisation. Whereas only the barbaric usurp land and property, steal, kill indiscriminately and oppress innocent lives by depriving them of basic human needs; or turns a blind eye when it goes on.
It’s not surprising Umar (ra) chose not to pray in the Church fearing it could be turned into a Mosque at a later date. It was a sign of his piety and great leadership. Generations later, just footsteps away from the church where it’s believed the Muslims prayed, a masjid indeed stands today in commemoration; The Mosque of Omar.🌙
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
