- Address: Jerusalem, Israel;
- Discovery: 1193
History of creation
The mosque of Omar (Umar) is one of the Islamic shrines in Jerusalem. It is often confused with another Muslim landmark of the capital - the Al-Aqsa Mosque , which was built by order of the great caliph Umar bin Khattab. The name Omar (Umar) was quite popular in the 6th-7th century. The namesake met even among high-ranking government officials.
In this article we will talk about a mosque connected with another famous Islamic caliph - Omar ibn Abn-Khattab. It is located not far from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, in the Christian quarter.
Unlike other Muslim leaders, Omar was not an ardent supporter of religion. He was born in the family of a simple merchant, for a long time he studied various martial arts and did not accept the preaching of Islam at all. Moreover, he even several times threatened to kill the Prophet Muhammad. But after growing up, the young man still believed, deeply immersed himself in the sacred world and soon became a close companion of the prophet.
Under the leadership of the wise and brave Omar ibn Abn-Khattab, the caliphate expanded rapidly. By 637, his power had spread to vast territories. The turn came and Jerusalem. To avoid bloodshed, Patriarch Sofroniy announced his decision to surrender the city to Muslims, but only under one condition - if the keys themselves are taken by the Caliph himself. Omar also showed favor and came from Medina to the gates of Jerusalem. And he did it not surrounded by a luxurious suite, but in a simple cloak, riding a donkey and in the company of only one guard.
Sophrony of Jerusalem met the Caliph, gave him the keys to the city and offered to pray together in the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher as a sign of mutual respect. Omar is used to talking to God in the mosque, so he politely declined, saying that if he enters this church, the rest of the Muslims will follow him, thereby depriving Christians of their holy place. The Caliph simply threw a stone and read the prayer on the spot where he fell. It is said that it was there, opposite the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher, where he read the Muslim prayer for the first time, the Caliph Omar ibn Abn-Khattab, four and a half centuries later and a mosque was built in his honor.
The year of the opening of the mosque of Omar is considered to be 1193 year. The minaret, about 15 meters in height, appeared much later - only in 1465. In the middle of the XIX century the capital restoration of the building was carried out. Inside the mosque is furnished quite modestly. The main relic that is stored here is a copy of the guarantee of Caliph Omar, in which he guaranteed the complete security of the entire non-Muslim population with his coming to power in Jerusalem.
Information for tourists
- if you are not an adherent of Islam, the entrance is prohibited, you can only examine the Omar Mosque in Jerusalem from the outside and take a photo against it;
- Muslims are free every day;
- at the entrance you should take off your shoes;
- the clothes of visitors to the mosque should not be provocative, shoulders and knees must be covered;
- you can not take pictures inside;
- even if you came with close friends or spouse, enter the mosque, step back from everyone, try not to talk to anyone or touch each other;
- Smoking on the territory adjacent to the mosque is prohibited.
How to get there?
The most convenient way to go to the mosque of Omar from the Jaffa gate . Directly in front of the gate there is a spacious car parking.
If you are traveling around Jerusalem by public transport, you can approach one of the shuttle buses to the following stops:
- Mamila / Karib (buses No. 1, 51, 83, 104, 111, 115, 117, 163, 284, 298, 387, 480);
- Yaffo Gate (buses # 3, 11, 117, 124, 125, 333);
- HaKishle / Armenian Patriarchy (buses No. 8, 38, 83, 882);
- Tsahal Square (buses No. 8, 38, 83, 117).
From each of these stops go to the mosque of Omar no more than 700 meters.