Madina to Jerusalem: Encounters with the Byzantine Empire

DESCRIPTION:

Traces one of the most dynamic episodes in the History of Islam, that follows immediately after the passing away of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It charts the course of Muslim History from 8-15 AH/ 629-637 CE when the great expansion into al-Sham (Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon) took place.

The Byzantines who ruled Jerusalem were very harsh. They not only barred Jews from entering Jerusalem, but also persecuted Christians who did not follow the same sect as them. but when the Muslims marched into Palestine in 638 CE, the people of Jerusalem gave up the city only after a brief siege. They made just one condition, that the terms of their surrender be negotiated directly with the Khalifah Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, in person. Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, agreed to come and entered Jerusalem on foot. There was no bloodshed or massacres. Those who wanted to leave were allowed to leave, with all their goods. Those who wanted to stay were guaranteed protection for their lives, property and places of worship.

The conquest of Palestine by the Muslims put an end to centuries of instability, religious persecution, and colonial rule. After the advent of Islam, people enjoyed security, safety and peace. Schools, mosques and hospitals were founded. Palestine was a center of learning from which a large number of scholars graduated. The conquest of Palestine by the Muslims began the 1300 years of Muslim rule, with the exception of the period of the Crusades (1099-1187) in what then became known as Filastin (Palestine).

About The Author:

Dr. Ismail Adam Patel is a human rights activist, founder of Friends of Al Aqsa, a UK-based NGO and a decolonial thinker. He's a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Leeds and the author of several books, including A Brief History of Palestine (2023), The Muslim Problem (2022), and Madina to Jerusalem (2005).

DETAILS:

ISBN: 9780860373933
AUTHOR: Ismail Adam Ismail
BINDING: Paperback
PAGES: 166 pages
DIMENSIONS: 21.5 x 1 x 14.5 cm
PUBLISHER: The Islamic Foundation