A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Pious Caliphate
~ 52 ~
for. For example he made maximum use of the Umayyad family in
the execution of his plans for the spread of Islam.
During his reign the Muslims, under Khalid the celebrated general
conquered Persia, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. In Jerusalem the
Christian ruler Sophronius set a condition for surrender— that
only if Caliph Umar comes here in person and signs the treaty of
peace only then they would surrender. The Caliph therefore set out
in 637 for Jerusalem with one servant and a camel. Since there was
only one camel he and his servants rode the camel by turns. It
happened that on the day they were to reach Jerusalem it was the
turn of the servant. The servant insisted on giving his turn to him
saying that it will look awkward that the servant is riding and the
Caliph leading the Camel. But Umar thought it was not according
to the spirit of justice so he refused to do so.
When the Palestinians saw the Caliph of a vast empire in rough,
patched cloak, walking on foot with no grain of pride and
haughtiness they threw their gates open to welcome him into the
Holy City.
Umar Farooq signed the peace treaty with the Christians of
Jerusalem, granted them full religious freedom to practise their
religion and full state protection.
Umar Farooq adopted the title of
Amir al-Muminin
(Leader of the
believers) rather than the
Khalifah Rasul Allah
(deputy of the
messenger of God) as Abu Bakr was called. He also instituted the
Hijrah
as the commencement of the Muslim era (622). He
instituted
Diwan-e-Ata,
which gave stipends to all Muslims. He
