The Reason Behind Personally Heading towards Jerusalem
However, some historians are not in agreement with this narration of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra). In this regard, Muhammad Hussain Haikal writes:
“It is imperative that we consider this narration documented by Al-Tabari, Ibn Athir and Ibn Kathir, which mentions that Hazrat Khalid (ra) bin Walid and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) bin al-Jarah, either individually or collectively, laid siege on Jerusalem to be far from the truth. Al-Tabari narrates that the reason Hazrat Umar (ra) came to Syria was that when Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) besieged Jerusalem, the people asked for a peace treaty on the same conditions as was established with other regions of Syria. However, they added the condition that Hazrat Umar (ra) should be present for the finalisation of the peace agreement. Accordingly, Hazrat Abu Ubiadahra sent word of this to the Khalifa and Hazrat Umar (ra) departed from Medina.”
He [Haikal] writes:
“I believe these accounts to be untrue, that Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and Hazrat Khalid (ra) were present at the siege of Jerusalem. They were occupied with conquests in Homs [Emessa], Halab [Aleppo], Antakiyah [Antioch/Antakya] and other surrounding areas, while Heraclius was collecting his forces in Ruha (Edessa) in the hope of driving the Muslims away by force. All these events took place in 15 AH, or 636 CE, along with the siege of Jerusalem.”
He further writes:
“In my opinion, the truth is that the siege of Jerusalem lasted for many months during the same year that these two commanders went deeper into Syria, to the extent that it forced Heraclius to take refuge in his capital. In these circumstances, in which these two were occupied, it does not make sense to say that one of them or both of them besieged Jerusalem. That is why this narration must be rendered unacceptable. The only other narration that remains, which has also been quoted in al-Tabari, is that Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas besieged Jerusalem, which lasted for a long time.”
The people of Jerusalem very fiercely and intensely opposed the Muslims. This is the correct narration according to Haikal because it is consistent with the resistance that was shown by the people of Jerusalem which they similarly demonstrated throughout history.
(Hazrat Umar Farooq A‘zam, Muhammad Husain Haikal, pp. 365-366, Islami Kutub Khana, Lahore)
Muhammad Hussain Haikal further writes:
“It is astonishing that Hazrat Umar (ra) would set out with an army only to finalise the peace treaty and for the promulgation of the agreement. Similarly, it is astonishing that the people of Jerusalem requested the presence of Hazrat Umar (ra) for the finalisation of the peace treaty knowing well that if a caravan was to travel to them from Medina continuously, it would take a full three weeks. For this reason, (Haikal writes) in light of the lengthy siege and letters from Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas which detailed the enemy’s strength and requested reinforcements, Hazrat Umar’s (ra) patience began to wear thin. Thus, Hazrat Umar (ra) accompanied the reinforcements who set up camp in Jabiya, located between the Syrian desert and Jordan.
“During this time, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and Hazrat Khalid (ra) had also concluded their conquest of Syria. Hazrat Umar (ra) sent an order for both of them to convene in Jabiya so that he could deliberate with them and the other army commanders about the best plan of action for the success of the conquest of Jerusalem.”
Atraboon and Sophroneyus received news of the arrival of Hazrat Umar (ra). Here, there is also a conflict in names. In Arabic literature, the name recorded is Artaboon, but according to Haikal that is incorrect, and the name is Atraboon according to his research. The name Sophroneyus in Arabic literature is Sophronius. In any case, he says that Hazrat Umar (ra) sought to find a way and come up with a strategy, and so he gathered the commanders for this.
Hazrat Umar (ra) was informed of what was happening in Syria by Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and Hazrat Khalid (ra). Subsequently, the two chieftains of the enemy [Atraboon and Sophroneyus] understood that the resistance of Jerusalem would not last much longer, i.e. that it was becoming more and more difficult for the fighting to endure. Therefore, Atraboon took some of the army with him and entered Egypt covertly. Being convinced of his own security, an elderly priest began discussing a peace treaty as he understood that the Leader of the Faithful [Hazrat Umar (ra)] had reached Jabiya and was staying there. For this reason, he placed a condition that he should attend himself in person to write up the peace treaty. The distance between Jabiya and Jerusalem was not extensive that any excuse be presented in response to this request of Sophroneyus. He [Haikal] says, “This is what I deem to be correct and to be in accordance with the historical context around the incidents regarding the attacks on Syria and Palestine.”
(Hazrat Umar Farooq A‘zam, Muhammad Husain Haikal, p. 358, 368, Islami Kutub Khana, Lahore) (Tarikh al-Khulafa al-Rashidin, al-Futuhat wa al-Injazat al-Siyasiyyah, p. 279, Maktabah Shamilah)