The siege
The Muslims besieged Iliya (Jerusalem), and all but its heart came under them.
Umar's Jerusalem Walk
The caliph walks to Jerusalem to take its keys himself — in twelve cards.
The condition
The patriarchs said: we hand over the city only if the commander of the faithful comes himself for the keys.
The decision
Umar set out from Madinah on a single mount — no army, no guard — to collect the keys.
Servant and master
His servant rode with him; they took turns — an hour he rode, an hour he led.
The patched robe
He entered Jerusalem in a robe with many patches, and did not change his clothes.
The covenant
He wrote them the Umari Covenant: their wealth, churches, crosses and faith all protected.
The church
He entered the Church of the Resurrection; when prayer came he prayed outside, so Muslims after him would not pray inside.
The cross
He broke no cross and razed no church; he respected what he found.
The mosque
He ordered a mosque built at the spot he prayed, where he had marked the ground.
The Rock
He found the Rock's shrine buried in refuse and cleared it with his own hands.
The keys
He took the city's keys from Patriarch Sophronius, and its gates opened to him.
The return
He returned to Madinah as he had come: on one mount, with his servant leading.
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- The siege
The Muslims besieged Iliya (Jerusalem), and all but its heart came under them. - The condition
The patriarchs said: we hand over the city only if the commander of the faithful comes himself for the keys. - The decision
Umar set out from Madinah on a single mount — no army, no guard — to collect the keys. - Servant and master
His servant rode with him; they took turns — an hour he rode, an hour he led. - The patched robe
He entered Jerusalem in a robe with many patches, and did not change his clothes. - The covenant
He wrote them the Umari Covenant: their wealth, churches, crosses and faith all protected. - The church
He entered the Church of the Resurrection; when prayer came he prayed outside, so Muslims after him would not pray inside. - The cross
He broke no cross and razed no church; he respected what he found. - The mosque
He ordered a mosque built at the spot he prayed, where he had marked the ground. - The Rock
He found the Rock's shrine buried in refuse and cleared it with his own hands. - The keys
He took the city's keys from Patriarch Sophronius, and its gates opened to him. - The return
He returned to Madinah as he had come: on one mount, with his servant leading.