Jerusalem has changed hands many times throughout history, with each ruler leaving a lasting mark on the city’s political, religious, and cultural landscape. While many people are familiar with modern disputes over Jerusalem, fewer know about a significant event that took place nearly 1,400 years ago.
In 638 CE, the city peacefully surrendered to the Rashidun Caliphate. Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab travelled to Jerusalem to formally accept its surrender, marking the beginning of Muslim rule over one of the world’s holiest cities. Among the most notable developments that followed was the restoration of a Jewish presence in Jerusalem after centuries of restrictions under Byzantine rule.
Jerusalem Before the Muslim Conquest
Before the arrival of Muslim rule, Jerusalem had been governed by the Byzantine Empire, the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire. Christianity was the state’s official religion, and religious policies reflected that reality.
Following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 132–135 CE, Jewish access to Jerusalem became heavily restricted. Although these policies evolved over time, many historians agree that under Byzantine administration Jews were generally prevented from freely residing in the city, with only limited exceptions during certain periods.
By the seventh century, Jerusalem had become one of Christianity’s most important centres. Jewish communities continued to exist throughout the wider region, but their presence inside Jerusalem itself remained extremely limited.
The Muslim Conquest of Jerusalem
In 637–638 CE, Muslim armies surrounded Jerusalem during the rapid expansion of the Rashidun Caliphate. Rather than being destroyed through prolonged warfare, the city ultimately surrendered peacefully.
Historical Islamic, Christian and Jewish sources describe Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab personally travelling from Medina to receive the city’s surrender. The event is remembered not only for its political significance but also for the agreements made regarding the city’s inhabitants and religious sites.
One of the best-known traditions from this period describes Umar refusing to pray inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, fearing that future generations of Muslims might attempt to convert it into a mosque. Instead, he prayed nearby, a decision often cited as an example of protecting Christian holy places.
The Return of a Jewish Community
Among the most significant developments following the conquest was the return of Jewish families to Jerusalem.
Numerous historical accounts record that Umar permitted Jews to once again establish a community within the city. Several later sources state that around 70 Jewish families relocated from Tiberias to Jerusalem, although historians continue to debate the precise number and the details surrounding their resettlement.
While scholars differ on exactly how long Jews had been excluded from permanent residence in Jerusalem, there is broad agreement that Muslim rule marked a major shift from previous Byzantine policy and enabled a renewed Jewish presence in the city.
For many historians, this represents one of the defining moments in Jerusalem’s long and complex history.
A More Complicated History
Modern discussions about Jerusalem often portray Muslims and Jews as historical enemies. However, the historical record is considerably more nuanced.
Across different centuries, alliances, conflicts, periods of coexistence and political changes all shaped relations between religious communities. Muslim dynasties, Christian empires and Jewish communities each experienced different periods of influence and hardship depending on who controlled the city at the time.
Recognising these historical realities does not diminish the suffering experienced by any community throughout history. Instead, it highlights how political circumstances frequently changed over the centuries.
Why This Story Matters Today
Understanding history requires looking beyond simplified narratives.
The Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 638 CE is remembered by many historians as a turning point that reshaped the city’s religious and demographic landscape. It illustrates that historical relationships between Muslims, Jews and Christians were often far more complex than modern political debates sometimes suggest.
While historians continue to debate aspects of the period—including the exact duration of earlier restrictions and the details of the Jewish resettlement—the broader historical consensus is that Muslim rule allowed a Jewish community to re-establish itself in Jerusalem after Byzantine rule came to an end.
Conclusion
Jerusalem remains one of the most historically and spiritually significant cities in the world. Every era of its history contains lessons that continue to shape modern discussions.
The events of 638 CE serve as a reminder that history is rarely as simple as competing narratives suggest. The restoration of a Jewish presence in Jerusalem under Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab remains an important chapter in the city’s story—one that deserves to be understood within its historical context and remembered alongside the many other events that have shaped Jerusalem over the centuries.