Document page
Islamiyat IGCSEPDF 163
204 pagesrevision 46927
PDF 163
Page image rendered from the stored file at 110 dpi; it sharpens as you zoom. Outlines are placed from each region’s stored position on the page (596 × 842 pt).
readable
Source of this text: embedded text layer. The better of the embedded text and OCR is kept.
behind them. Khalid captured the old Roman bridge across the valley of Ruqqad and
Muslims forces stormed the Byzantines camp at Yaqusa. The Byzantines were further
demoralized by rumors that Christian Arabs had defected to the Muslim side The war
strategies of the Muslim commanders paid off and the battle lasted 6 days. By the afternoon
of the 6th day only one third of the Byzantine army remained, the rest had either been killed
or had fled. The Muslim loss of life was 9000 men. The battle of Yarmuk was a great victory
for the Muslims. The power of Byzantine was completely crushed and Syria fell in the hands
of the Muslims. Heraclius moved his capital to Constantinople. The city of Jerusalem, which
was besieged by Amr ibn al Aa’s since the Yarmuk conflict and had withstood surrender, with
the arrival of Abu ‘Ubaydah realised the futility of their position and agreed to surrender but
only to the caliph. 4. Siege and Conquest of Jerusalem, 637 Though the Muslims had been
successful in securing all of Syria, the city of Jerusalem, besieged by Amr ibn al Aas since the
Yarmuk conflict, had withstood surrender. It was only when Amr’s army was reinforced by
Abu ‘Ubaydah and Khalid’s forces, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem realized the futility of
their position and agreed to a surrender, but on the condition that the Caliph would himself
come to sign the treaty. Jerusalem was one city whose conquest was more symbolic than of
military importance and hence Hazrat Umar agreed to personally be present at the surrender
of Jerusalem in 637. To make this journey he set off which one slave and a camel between
them. When the Patriarch Sophronius, an Arab Christian who had risen to become one of the
leading figures of the Greek Church in Jerusalem, witnessed the simplicity and humility of
the Caliph he is reported to have said:’ Verily Islam has exceeded all the religious.’ The terms
of the treaty signed with the leaders of Jerusalem were similar to others put in place
throughout Syria. What was unique about the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem was that the
new governors allowed Jews, who were banned from the city of the Byzantines, to come here
to worship for the first time in over 500 years. The Qur’an holds Christian and Jewish
religious in special esteem calling Jews and Christians, “The people of the book
(Ahl-ul-Kitab).” While acknowledging the right of Christians and Jews in Jerusalem, Hazrat
Umar RA was keen to send the message that this city also belonged to the
Muslims.Jerusalem was the city to which the holy Prophet pbuh had travelled from Makkah
during M’airaj, and where he led the prophets of the past in prayer, before ascending to
heaven. There could be no minimizing the importance of Jerusalem in the Islamic tradition,
and within mind Hazrat umerRA set about the cleaning the Temple Mount, erected the first
version of the al- Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam 8 A deputation from Jerusalem
waited on Hazrat Umar and a treaty was drawn up. According to the treaty, security of life
and property were granted to all citizens of Jerusalem. The safety of churches and other
religious buildings was provided for. The citizens were required to pay Jizya. Those who
refused to comply were asked to leave the city. Then the Caliph expressed his desire to be led
to some place where he could offer thanksgiving prayer. He was led to a church. He refused
to pray their on the ground that he would set an example for the Muslims of the following
generation to forcibly convert churches into mosques. He was then led to a place where
Prophet David used to pray.
5. Conquest of Egypt: Hazrat Amr ibn Aas realized the strategic importance of this region
and asked the Caliph for the permission of an expedition who made him in charge of 4000
men. Amr approached the massive and well defended fort at Fustat. He requested for
reinforcements and Umar sent them with four commanders. Amr handed over the operation
to Zubair who captured the fort after a seven month long siege. This fort later became the
garrison town of Fustat. After Fustat, Amr laid the siege to Alexandria. There were 50000
Christian forces and Muslims were 12000. The siege lasted for a long time. Umar wrote a