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 Late Roman name for Jerusalem. Several versions of the Assurance exist, with different views of their authenticity.[1]

Not to be confused with the Pact of Umar.

The significance of the Assurance is discussed by early Muslim historians such as al-Waqidi (c. 747–823), al-Baladhuri (d. 892), in addition to Ibn al-Athir (1160-1232/3) and Abu al-Fida’ (1273-1331). The text of the document is included, either abridged or as long text, in the works al-Ya'qubi (d. 897/8), Eutychius (877–940), al-Tabari (copied from Sayf ibn Umar (died betw. 786-809), al-Himyari, Mujir al-Din al-Hanbali, and Ibn al-Jawzi (c. 1116–1201).[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 Allah the Merciful,
This is what gave Abdullah, Omar, Commander of the Faithful, the people of Aelia from safety, he gave them security for themselves, their money, their churches, their crosses, their sin, their innocence, and all other sects. That their churches do not live and are not demolished, and there is no shortage of them, their realm or their cross, nor any of their money, and they will not be forced to hate their religion, and none of them is harmed, and no one dwells from them with any of the Jews. And the people of Aelia must be given a tribute, just as it is given to the people of the cities. They have to get the rum and thieves out Whoever comes out of it is safe for himself and his wealth until they reach their security. And he who resides among them is safe, and he is obligated to do the same as what the Aelias are obligated to pay. He who loves the people of Aelia to walk himself and his wealth with the Romans and evacuate their sale and crucifixion, they are safe for themselves and for their sale and crucifixion until they reach their security. He who desires them will sit on it, as is the case for the tribute to the Aelias. It is willing, he walked with rum. And whoever wishes will return to his family, nothing will be taken from them until their harvest is harvested.

Books and attended by fifteen years Hijra.

Witnessed this: Khalid bin Al Waleed, Abdul Rahman bin Auf, Amr bin Al Aas, and Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan.»

While Umar, may God be pleased with him, dictated this covenant, I attended the prayer. Patriarch Sefronius [sic] invited Umar to pray where he was in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but Umar refused and said to him: I am afraid that if you prayed, I prayed that Muslims would overwhelm you and say here he prayed the Commander of the Faithful.

Notes
  1. 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.

References
  • Abu-Munshar, Maher Y. (2007-09-15). Islamic Jerusalem and its Christians: a history of tolerance and tensions. Tauris Academic Studies. ISBN 9781845113537.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

See also
  • Pact of Umar, apocryphal treaty possibly based on Umar's Assurance
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