Omar at the gates of Jerusalem

By Sheikh: Osama Hafez

Omar - may Allah be pleased with him - Called Othman and Ali to consult them about a message from his deputy in Palestine Abu Ubaida bin al Jarah. The Muslims laid siege on Jerusalem but its patriarch refused to give the city keys but to the caliph.

Despite the objections of some commanders led by Khaled bin al Walid and their determination to open it by force, Abu Ubayda refused and sent a message about that to Omar.

So Othman and Ali differed about this issue like the commanders. Othman agreed with Khaled to open the city by force but Ali suggested on Omar to go himself to serve the needs of his soldiers and raise their spirits after the war. Omar praised Ali's opinion and ordered the preparation to the matter.

Omar - may Allah be pleased with him - was the ruler of the most powerful state in the world at that time which overcame the Persians and the Romans. Omar was going to receive keys of the greatest city. Thus, it was expected that a majestic procession be prepared for him.

On the contrary, his procession was only a beast for him and his servant. They were shifting on it. Near Jerusalem, the leaders of troops were waiting for the caliph. They rode horses and wore nice clothes to show the effects of grace. Shortly afternoon, a passenger appeared with a baldhead facing the sun. It was Omar's turn to walk. He approached them, pulling the beast while the boy rode on.

- Oh God! It is Omar bin al-Khattab who came here from the Medina to receive the keys of the city. They hurried and rallied around him. He was angry with them for not carrying their swards. They apologized saying they were under their clothes.

- Abu Ubayda looked at Omar and said: "O caliph! You have made a great accident to all the people, In reference to the clothes and beast. Omar said: "you Abu Ubayda! You were the most humiliated and humble people until Allah honored you by Islam. If you searched for dignity away from it, Allah would humiliate you.

- Omar sat with his soldiers and asked Bilal to call for prayer. Bilal had stopped calling for prayer since the Prophet, peace be upon him, died. When he called for prayer the companions who attended shed tears because his voice reminded them of the days of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

- When Omar got ready to receive the city, the companions said to him, "You are the King of the Arabs but these clothes do not fit these countries. What about wearing fine clothes and riding a horse? This is great in the eyes of the Romans."

- Omar agreed but as soon as the horse hopped, Omar jumped away from his back, took off the clothes, and ordered for his old ones.

- May Allah be merciful and be pleased with you.

- And thus, Omar opened Jerusalem. A crowd of his soldiers following him shouting, "Allah is the Great" and their voice reached the sky.

- In these days of the month of Rajab of the year XVI of migration, the Muslim army entered Jerusalem for the first time.

- In these days of the month of May 1948, the Jews declared their state.

- In these days of the month of June 1967, the Jewish armies entered Jerusalem and added it to their alleged state.

- In the midst of their celebrations, I remind them of this page of history.

- I also remind the negligent Muslims.

- The scene of the caliph entering Jerusalem is still in our memories.

- This scene will return as it happened in the days of Salah al-Din when he freed the land after a hundred years of occupation by crusaders.

- It may be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, but it will definitely return because it is the promise of Allah the almighty.

Translated by: A. Mohammed

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