مركز النجاح للدراسات الدينية
An-Najah Center for Religious Studies
When Omar ibn Al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Muslims, conquered Jerusalem he declared the Omari Covenant and spoke to the people of Ilia’ (Jerusalem): “O people of Ilia’, you have your rights as we do, and you have to perform your duties as we also do”. Then, he called Patriarch Sophronius to check the Church of Resurrection, so the latter accepted the invitation. While they were inside the church, the prayer-call maker called for a prayer, and the patriarch asked Omar ibn Al-Khattab to pray in the church, but Omar rejected as he feared that Muslims might think of turning the church into a mosque. This is because Omar cared about the Christians’ feelings and respected their religion and their places of worship. Thus, he asked them to find him a proper place to pray. Outside the church, Omar and the Muslims who were with him prayed. Later, on that spot, the Muslims in Jerusalem built a mosque which is still there, nearby the church, and which is called Omar Mosque.
