Departure for Jerusalem
Today the conquest of Jerusalem will be mentioned, which took place in 15 AH. After the forces under the leadership of Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas had besieged Jerusalem, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) joined them with his army. Becoming weary from the siege, the Christians proposed a peace treaty, but on the condition that Hazrat Umar (ra) should come himself and agree to the terms. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) informed Hazrat Umar (ra) of this matter. When Hazrat Umar (ra) consulted the companions, Hazrat Ali (ra) suggested that Hazrat Umar (ra) should go. Hazrat Umar (ra) approved of this suggestion and appointed Hazrat Ali (ra) as the amir of Medina. In another narration, it is said that Hazrat Uthman (ra) was made the amir of Medina.
Following this, Hazrat Umar (ra) departed for Jerusalem. This journey was not an ordinary journey. The purpose of it was to impress the awe of Islam onto the enemy’s hearts and establish its grandeur. However, when Hazrat Umar (ra) departed, unlike worldly kings, there was no extravagant procession accompanying him, nor was there any beating of drums. It was such that not even a simple tent was brought along. Instead, Hazrat Umar (ra) was riding a horse, accompanied by a few Muhajirin and Ansar companions. In one narration, it is said that Hazrat Umar (ra) was travelling by camel and accompanied only by a single servant who was carrying parched grains and a wooden bowl. Despite these conditions, the earth would tremble at the news that Hazrat Umar (ra) was travelling from Medina to Jerusalem.
(Tarikh Ibn Khuldun, Vol. 3, Part 1, [Karachi: Dar al- Isha‘ah, 2009], p. 207)
This is a short account of the journey and there are not many details about it. Nonetheless, Iliya was the [old] name of where Jerusalem is situated. The details of who besieged Jerusalem are mentioned in Al-Tabari, including who requested Hazrat Umar (ra) to come there. It is mentioned in Al-Tabari that Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas wrote to Hazrat Umar (ra) requesting reinforcements. Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas sent a letter to Hazrat Umar (ra). He explained that he was fighting intense and fierce battles and there were many cities that still remained to be engaged with, so he awaited further instructions. Upon receiving this letter from Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas, Hazrat Umar (ra) understood that this letter must have been written after careful consideration. Following this, Hazrat Umar (ra) announced his departure amongst the public and set forth on his journey.
(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, Part 2 [Karachi: Dar al-Isha‘at, 2004], p. 804)
Al-Tabari also mentions that the actual reason for Hazrat Umar’s (ra) journey to Syria was when Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) arrived in Jerusalem, the people asked for a peace treaty on the same conditions as was established with the cities in Syria. They also desired that Hazrat Umar (ra) should represent the Muslims as their leader in taking this covenant of peace. When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) wrote to Hazrat Umar (ra) about this in a letter, Hazrat Umar (ra) set out from Medina.
(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1987], p. 449) (Yaqut Ibn Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu‘jam al-Buldan, Vol. 14 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah], p. 348)