Al-‘Uhda Al-‘Umariyya; ‘Umariyya Covenant’ [Archives:2008/1144/Culture]

Nisreen Shadad
For Yemen Times
Al-Uhda Al-Umariyya is a treaty containing a truce made between Umar and the governor of Jerusalem, Sophronius. After successfully defeating the Byzantines in the Battle of Yarmuk, Umar went to Jerusalem by horse. He called every local Christian and Jewish religious leader to meet him.

A servant of Umar says: When Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, came close to Syria he stood aside for a little while. He rode the camel of his servant which had a cover of fur turned upside down. He let his servant ride on his camel. Al-Abbas was in front of him riding a beautiful horse. He was a nice looking man, so the patriarchs started to greet him thinking he was Umar so he began to signal to them saying: “I am not, Umar is the one there.”

Umar entered Jerusalem on foot. There was no bloodshed. There were no massacres. Those who wanted to leave were allowed to