The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XVIII
CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM
15 A.H. 636 A.D.
The main attack of the Arabs was, as we have seen, on the
Palestine
l.Iauran. Issuing from Arabia, their northward course had conquered,
been along the highway to Damascus, the pilgrim route of
tlie present day, east of the Dead Sea. The base of operations
throughout the Syrian campaign was at Al-Jabiya, a town
on the high land to the east of the Sea of Galilee ; from
whence columns could be forwarded, by the great military
roads, either to Damascus and the north, or westward to
Tiberias, the Jordan, and Palestine, Soon after the battle
of P'ihl and siege of Damascus, the greater part of the
Jordan province fell rapidly under the arms of 'Amr and
Shuralibil. In Palestine proper, Jerusalem, Ramleh, and
Caisarca alone held out.
Towards Jerusalem, full of associations sacred to the Jerusalem
Muslims, 'Amr first directed his steps. On his approach, E^^J'^'f''"^'
Artabun (Aretion) retired with his army into Egypt. The 15A.H.,
Patriarch sued for peace. One condition he is said to have
.>7 a.d.
made, that 'Omar should himself come to the Holy City, and
there in person settle the capitulation. The Caliph, braving 'Omar's
the objections of his court, at once set out, journeying direct journey to
for Al-Jabiya. It was a memorable occasion, the first
progress of a Caliph be)'ond the limits of Arabia.
Jerusalem was to the Muslim an object of intense veneration,
not only as the cradle
of Judaism and Christianity, but
as the first Kibla of I shim, or sacred spot to which the
I'aithful turn in pra}'er ; and also the shrine at which
Mohammad alighted on the heavenly journey which he
performed by night. ^ 'Omar, having inspected the site of
181
^
Kor, 17, 1, Life of Mohdinnuid^ p. ui,