Umar's Assurance

Umar's Assurance, or al-ʿUhda al-ʿUmariyya (Arabic: العهدة العمرية‎), is an assurance of safety given by the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab to the people of Aelia, the Roman name for Jerusalem. Several versions of the Assurance exist, with different views of their authenticity.[1]

The significance of the Assurance is discussed by early Muslim historians such as al-Waqidi, al-Baladhuri, in addition to Ibn al-Athir and Abu al-Fida’. The text of the document is included, either abridged or as long text, in the works al-Ya'qubi, Eutychius, al-Tabari (copied from Sayf ibn Umar), al-Himyari, Mujir al-Din al-Hanbali, and Ibn al-Jawzi.[2]

Opinions differ on the authenticity of the different versions of the Assurance.[1] Many historians have questioned the authenticity of the Christian versions of this pact and argue that such documents were forged by Christian scribes to secure their possession of some religious sites.[3][4] Some historians consider aspects of al-Tabari's version to be authentic.[5] For instance, Moshe Gil while discussing al-Tabari's version points out that "the language of the covenant and its details appear authentic and reliable and in keeping with what is known of Jerusalem at the time."[6]

Historical background

By 637 AD, Muslim armies began to appear in the vicinity of Jerusalem. In charge of Jerusalem was Patriarch Sophronius, a representative of the Byzantine government, as well as a leader in the Christian Church. Although numerous Muslim armies under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid and 'Amr ibn al-'As began to surround the city, Sophronius accepted to surrender but he demanded that Umar come to accept the surrender himself.

Having heard of such a condition, Umar ibn al-Khattab left Medina to Jerusalem.

Text

The text as reported by al-Tabari:

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is the assurance of safety [aman] which the servant of God Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, has given to the people of Jerusalem. He has given them an assurance of safety for themselves, for their property, their churches, their crosses, the sick and healthy of the city and for all the rituals which belong to their religion. Their churches will not be inhabited by Muslims and will not be destroyed. Neither they, nor the land on which they stand, nor their cross, nor their property will be damaged. They will not be forcibly converted.

The people of Jerusalem must pay the taxes (jizya) like the people of other cities and must expel the Byzantines and the robbers. Those of the people of Jerusalem who want to leave with the Byzantines, take their property and abandon their churches and crosses will be safe until the reach their place of refuge. The villagers [ahl al-ard, who had taken refuge in the city at the time of the conquest] may remain in the city if they wish but must pay taxes like the citizens. Those who wish may go with the Byzantines and those who wish may return to their families. Nothing is to be taken from them before their harvest is reaped.

If they pay their taxes according to their obligations, then the conditions laid out in this letter are under the covenant of God, are the responsibility of His Prophet, of the caliphs and of the faithful.[7]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Abu-Munshar 2007, p. 88.
  2. ↑ Abu-Munshar 2007, p. 89.
  3. ↑ Morony, M. G. (2005). Hendrika Lena Murre-van den Berg; Theo Maarten Van Lint; Jan J. Ginkel, eds. Redefining Christian Identity: Cultural Interaction in the Middle East Since the Rise of Islam. Peeters Publishers. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-90-429-1418-6. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  4. ↑ ʻOded, Peri (2001). Christianity Under Islam in Jerusalem: The Question of the Holy Sites in Early Ottoman Times. BRILL. p. 128. ISBN 978-90-04-12042-6. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Abu-Munshar 2007, p. 94.
  6. ↑ Gil, Moshe (1997-02-27). A History of Palestine, 634-1099. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521599849.
  7. ↑ Hugh Kennedy, The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In, Hachette UK (2010), pp. 91-92

References

  • Abu-Munshar, Maher Y. (2007-09-15). Islamic Jerusalem and its Christians: a history of tolerance and tensions. Tauris Academic Studies. ISBN 9781845113537.

Further reading

  • El-Awaisi, Abd al-Fattah. Umar’s Assurance of Safety to the People of Aelia (Jerusalem): A critical Analytical Study of the Historical Sources. Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies. Vol. 3, No 2 (Summer 2000) pp 47–49.
  • Kazmouz, Mahmoud Mataz (2011). "Multiculturalism in Islam : the document of Madīnah & Umar's assurance of safety as two case studies". University of Aberdeen.
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