Omar Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

Omar Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

Christian site in the world. It encompasses Calvary where (sepulcher) where he was buried. It has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4th century, C.E. In a remarkable gesture, Omar refused to pray in the Church, saying: "If I had prayed in the church, it would have been taken by Muslims as a mosque”.

Omar instead prayed a few yards outside the church. His act confirmed the peaceful coexistence between Islam and other religions. It confirmed freedom of worship for non Muslims under the Islamic state. 

Omar Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem In the old city of Jerusalem, a great example of religious tolerance has been existing for many centuries. It started when the second Muslim ruler of the Islamic state Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab took over Jerusalem (638 CE) peacefully without shedding a drop of blood. 

Omar was invited by the Archbishop of Jerusalem, Sophronius, to pray in Church of the Holy Sepulcher. also known as the Church of to Eastern Orthodox Christians). It is the holiest.

Christian site in the world. It encompasses Calvary where (sepulcher) where he was buried. It has been an important pilgrimage  estination since the 4th century, C.E. In a remarkable gesture, Omar refused to pray in the Church, saying: "If I had prayed in the church, it would have been taken by Muslims as a mosque”.

Omar instead prayed a few yards outside the church. His act confirmed the peaceful coexistence between Islam and other religions. It confirmed freedom of worship for non Muslims under the Islamic state.

A mosque was built on that site where Omar prayed to commemorate this historical event (later, it was called Omar Mosque).

Caliph Omar entrusted the custody of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, to 'Ubadah Ibn Al-Samit, a companion of prophet Muhammad who became the first Muslim judge of Jerusalem. Ubadah died in the year 658CE and was buried in the “Gate of Mercy” cemetery at the southern corner of Sanctuary includes the Dome of the Rock and Aqsa Mosque.