*I seek refuge in Allah from the evils of the accursed satan.* *In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate.*
There is a traditional story about `Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the Islamic caliph who captured the city of Jerusalem and built the first mosque on the grounds of the sacred sanctuary now known as the Dome of the Rock (*al-Bayt al-Muqaddas).* <#2> `Umar was a ruler of great justice and peace. Because of his noble qualities, he was given the beautiful name, Commander of the Faithful (*Amir al-Mu'minin*), and it was his rightful duty to receive the key to the Holy City which was the original qiblah, the direction Muslims face while praying. The armies of `Umar had already entered Jerusalem and taken control of the city from the Christians who had ruled there since the time of Constantine, but when `Umar came to take official possession of Jerusalem, he came alone. He journeyed from Damascus to Jerusalem with only one camel and a cameleer. The caliph, being a man of great humility, had arranged with the cameleer that they would both take turns riding the camel. According to justice, he would ride for a while, then the cameleer would ride and he would walk. Meanwhile, the entire city was awaiting `Umar's impending arrival. The bishop of the Holy Sepulcher had announced, "The great Islamic leader is coming! We must greet him and pay our respects to him." And so all the people had gathered at the city gate, awaiting a grand royal procession. But no procession appeared. Instead, two people became visible on the horizon, approaching very slowly. When they finally reached the city, it was the cameleer's turn to be riding, and so all the people mistook him for the caliph and rushed to greet him. ''Wait! I am not the caliph!" he protested and explained their arrangement to take turns riding and walking. The people, overwhelmed by this justice, praised the great caliph. The bishop was also amazed by such justice. His heart filled with joy, and he handed the key of the city to `Umar Ibn al-Khattdb. The bishop then invited `Umar to perform his prayers within their church. But when `Umar saw the interior decorated with all the Christian symbols, he politely declined, saying, "I will pray just outside your doors." Once he had finished, the bishop asked, ''Why would you not come inside our church?" "If I had prayed in your sanctuary,'' `Umar explained, ''my followers and those who come here in the future would take over this building and turn it into a mosque. They would destroy your place of worship. To avoid these difficulties and allow your church to continue as it is, I prayed outside." Again the bishop was amazed by his justice. ''Today, because of your justice, faith, wisdom, and truth, you have received the key to the Holy City. But for how long will this remain in your hands? When will this sacred place come back into our possession? `Umar Ibn al-Khattab then replied, ''Today we have indeed taken over this place of worship. It is with the four qualities of faith, wisdom, justice, and truth that we have regained the city. As long as these four exist in Islam, as long as the Muslims have all four in their hands, they will retain the city. But when these qualities depart from Islam, this place of worship will change hands once again. "If it happens that we must lose this place to someone else, it will be because we lack certitude in our faith. When the Muslims sell the truth and collect worldly wealth and seek worldly pleasures; when they lose good faith, good conduct, and the good behavior of modesty and reserve; when they relate to women in an immoral and unjust way; when they behave with backbiting, jealousy, and envy; when they lack unity and establish hypocrisy; when they destroy good deeds and degenerate into committing evil actions-when all this occurs in the midst of Islam, then unity and peacefulness will be destroyed. These evil qualities and actions will cause divisions and separations, and this Holy City will be taken from our hands. That is certain. "When this happens, the followers of Islam will be as numerous as the granules of flour in dough. But the number of those who shall take possession of the city will be as few as the grains of salt in the dough. This will happen when degradation permeates Islam." These were the words of `Umar Ibn al-Khattab when he took possession of the Holy City and the sacred ground of the Dome of the Rock. (from:http://www.bmf.org/iswp/justice.html#1)
