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Coordinates: 31°42′16.34″N 35°12′20.03″E / 31.7045389°N 35.2055639°E / 31.7045389; 35.2055639
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{{Short description|Mosque in Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine}}
{{About|mosque in Bethlehem|the mosque with the same name in Jerusalem|Mosque of Omar}}
{{About|mosque in Bethlehem|the mosque with the same name in Jerusalem|Mosque of Omar (Jerusalem)}}
{{Infobox religious building
{{Infobox religious building
|image = Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem), 2019 (01).jpg
| name = Mosque of Omar
|caption = Mosque of Omar
| native_name = مسجد عمر
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|location = [[Bethlehem]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
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The '''Mosque of Omar''' ({{lang-ar|<big>مسجد عمر</big>}} ''Masjid Umar'') is the only [[mosque]] in [[Bethlehem]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], located on the west side of [[Manger Square]], across the square from the [[Church of the Nativity]].
The '''Mosque of Omar''' ({{langx|ar|مسجد عمر}} ''Masjid Umar'') is the only [[mosque]] in the Old City of [[Bethlehem]],<ref name=Times>{{cite news |author= Valentine Low & Catherine Philp |title= Prince Charles offers strong message of support for Palestinians in Bethlehem |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date= 24 January 2020 |url= https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-charles-offers-strong-message-of-support-for-palestinians-in-bethlehem-dq600wqtp |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=LP>{{cite web |title= Mosque of Omar: Mosque in Bethlehem |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |url= https://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/the-west-bank-and-gaza-strip/bethlehem/attractions/mosque-of-omar/a/poi-sig/451497/361063 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]. It is located on the west side of [[Manger Square]], across the square from the [[Church of the Nativity]].


==History==
==History==
===Early Muslim period; location===
===Early Muslim period; location===
The mosque is named after [[Umar ibn al-Khattab|Omar (Umar) ibn al-Khattab]] (c. 581–644), the second [[Rashidun]] [[Caliph]]. [[Siege of Jerusalem (636–637)|Having conquered Jerusalem]], Omar had travelled to Bethlehem in 637 CE to issue a law that would guarantee respect for the shrine and safety for Christians and clergy.<ref name=GC>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027083954/http://geocities.com/bethlehem74/omarmosque.htm Mosque of Omar] GeoCities: Bethlehem Homepage</ref>{{dubious|Geocities is not an acceptable source.|date=April 2020}} Only four years after the death of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]], Omar allegedly prayed at the location of the mosque.<ref name="ATT">{{cite web |title= Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem) |publisher= Atlas Travels and Tourism Agency |url= http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/mosque_of_omar.html |access-date= January 20, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130729000000/http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/mosque_of_omar.html |archive-date= July 29, 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>{{dubious|Atlas Travels and Tourism Agency is not an acceptable source.|date=April 2020}}
The mosque is named after [[Umar ibn al-Khattab|Omar (Umar) ibn al-Khattab]] (c. 581–644), the second [[Rashidun]] [[Caliph]]. [[Siege of Jerusalem (636–637)|Having conquered Jerusalem]], Omar had travelled to Bethlehem in 637 CE to issue a law that would guarantee respect for the shrine and safety of Christians and clergy.<ref name=GC>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027083954/http://geocities.com/bethlehem74/omarmosque.htm Mosque of Omar] GeoCities: Bethlehem Homepage</ref>{{dubious|Geocities is not an acceptable source.|date=April 2020}} Only four years after the death of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]], Omar allegedly prayed at the location of the mosque.<ref name="ATT">{{cite web |title= Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem) |publisher= Atlas Travels and Tourism Agency |url= http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/mosque_of_omar.html |access-date= January 20, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130729000000/http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/mosque_of_omar.html |archive-date= July 29, 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>{{dubious|Atlas Travels and Tourism Agency is not an acceptable source.|date=April 2020}}


[[Yaqut al-Hamawi]] (d. 1229) relates how Caliph Omar was advised by a Christian monk to build a mosque in an arcaded building or ''haniyya'', rather than transform the Church of the Nativity into a mosque.<ref name="Guidetti"/> Yaqut places the ''haniyya'' at a site where biblical kings [[David]] and [[Solomon]] were thought to be buried.<ref name="Guidetti"/> Already in the early 10th century, [[Eutychius of Alexandria]] (877–940) describes the ''haniyya'' as placed within a Christian site, facing south and thus being appropriate for Muslim prayer (''[[qibla]]''), and mentions Omar as allowing Muslims to pray in the ''haniyya'' only one at a time; and prohibiting them to touch anything there, as well as to call for or conduct congregational prayers inside.<ref name="Guidetti"/> Eutychius complained that in his time, the early 10th century, Muslims had broken these three rules.<ref name="Guidetti"/> The evolution of the status of this site of prayer seems to have been from an arcaded space attached to a Christian building, where at first Muslims held only limited rights for performing prayers, to a [[congregational mosque]] starting from the early tenth century.<ref name="Guidetti"/> The exact location of the ''haniyya'' is not clear, but the place thought during [[late antiquity]] to be the burial site of David and Solomon was described by the [[Pilgrim of Bordeaux]] (330) as not far from the Basilica of the Nativity, and by the [[Piacenza Pilgrim]] (570) as half a Roman mile from the town centre.<ref name="Guidetti">{{cite book |author= Mattia Guidetti |title= In the Shadow of the Church: The Building of Mosques in Early Medieval Syria |publisher= BRILL; Lam edition |series= Arts and Archaeology of the Islamic World (Book 8) |isbn= 9789004325708 |year= 2016 |pages=30-31 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3n5yDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA30&l |access-date=2018-04-09 |}}</ref>
[[Yaqut al-Hamawi]] (d. 1229) relates how Caliph Omar was advised by a Christian monk to build a mosque in an arcaded building or ''haniyya'', rather than transform the Church of the Nativity into a mosque.<ref name="Guidetti"/> Yaqut places the ''haniyya'' at a site where biblical kings [[David]] and [[Solomon]] were thought to be buried.<ref name="Guidetti"/> In the early 10th century, [[Eutychius of Alexandria]] (877–940) describes the ''haniyya'' as placed within a Christian site, facing south and thus being appropriate for Muslim prayer (''[[qibla]]''), and mentions Omar as allowing Muslims to pray in the ''haniyya'' only one at a time; and prohibiting them to touch anything there, as well as to call for or conduct congregational prayers inside.<ref name="Guidetti"/> Eutychius complained that in his time, the early 10th century, Muslims had broken these three rules.<ref name="Guidetti"/> The evolution of the status of this site of prayer seems to have been from an arcaded space attached to a Christian building, where at first Muslims held only limited rights for performing prayers, to a [[congregational mosque]] starting from the early tenth century.<ref name="Guidetti"/>


The exact location of the ''haniyya'' is not clear, but the place thought during [[late antiquity]] to be the burial site of David and Solomon was described by the [[Pilgrim of Bordeaux]] (330) as not far from the Basilica of the Nativity, and by the [[Piacenza Pilgrim]] (570) as half a [[Mile#Roman mile|Roman mile]] from the town centre.<ref name="Guidetti">{{cite book |author= Mattia Guidetti |title= In the Shadow of the Church: The Building of Mosques in Early Medieval Syria |publisher= BRILL; Lam edition |series= Arts and Archaeology of the Islamic World (Book 8) |isbn= 9789004325708 |year= 2016 |pages=30–31 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3n5yDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 |access-date=2018-04-09 }}</ref>
===Current mosque (1860)===
The current mosque was built in 1860,<ref name="ATT"/> and was renovated in 1955, during [[Jordan]]ian control of the city.<ref name=GC/> The land used for its construction was donated by Jerusalem's [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Greek Orthodox Church]].<ref name="ATT"/> In the past, before the advent of light bulbs, it was common for [[Muslim]]s and [[Palestinian Christian|Christians]] in Bethlehem to offer [[olive oil]] to light up the surroundings of the mosque, evidence of religious coexistence in the city.<ref name=GC/>


===Tensions (2000s)===
===Modern mosque at new location (1860)===
The current mosque was built in 1860,<ref name="ATT"/> on land given for the purpose by Jerusalem's [[Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem|Greek Orthodox Church]].<ref name=LP/> It was renovated in 1955 during [[Jordan]]ian control of the city.<ref name=GC/> In the past, before the advent of light bulbs, it was common for [[Muslims]] and [[Palestinian Christians|Christians]] in Bethlehem to offer [[olive oil]] to light up the surroundings of the mosque, which was evidence of religious coexistence in the city.<ref name=GC/>

====Tensions (2000s)====
On February 20, 2006, the [[Dalai Lama]] canceled his visit to the mosque, among other places, due to pressure from the government of [[China]]. The [[Palestinian National Authority]] had requested the cancellation. A [[Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|foreign ministry]] official, Majdi al-Khaldi, told reporters, <blockquote>
On February 20, 2006, the [[Dalai Lama]] canceled his visit to the mosque, among other places, due to pressure from the government of [[China]]. The [[Palestinian National Authority]] had requested the cancellation. A [[Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|foreign ministry]] official, Majdi al-Khaldi, told reporters, <blockquote>
At the request of the Chinese government, we have not received or dealt with him given his [[International Tibet Independence Movement|separatist ambitions for Tibet]].... Given our friendly relations with the Chinese government, which supports the Palestinian people, we asked the local (Bethlehem) authorities as well as [[civil society]] groups not to receive him and they acquiesced with our request.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hlrn.org/news_show_user.php?id=116 |title=Palestinians refuse Dalai Lama visit again |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302052246/http://www.hlrn.org/news_show_user.php?id=116 |archivedate=March 2, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060221-091856-8611r|title=Dalai Lama visit|publisher=[[Middle East Times]]|agency=[[House and Land Rights Network]]|date=February 20, 2006}}{{Dead link|date=December 2009}}</ref>
At the request of the Chinese government, we have not received or dealt with him given his [[International Tibet Independence Movement|separatist ambitions for Tibet]].... Given our friendly relations with the Chinese government, which supports the Palestinian people, we asked the local (Bethlehem) authorities as well as [[civil society]] groups not to receive him and they acquiesced with our request.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hlrn.org/news_show_user.php?id=116 |title=Palestinians refuse Dalai Lama visit again |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302052246/http://www.hlrn.org/news_show_user.php?id=116 |archivedate=March 2, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060221-091856-8611r|title=Dalai Lama visit|publisher=[[Middle East Times]]|agency=House and Land Rights Network|date=20 February 2006}}{{Dead link|date=December 2009}}</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
In February 2007, [[Israel]]'s [[Shin Bet]] security agency arrested 20 men who were allegedly recruited for a "[[Hamas]]-linked cell" by a Muslim [[clergy|cleric]] in the Mosque of Omar.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Israel nabs 20 terror suspects|publisher=[[UPI]]|date=February 5, 2007}}</ref> Nevertheless, the mosque remained peaceful when Palestinian President [[Mahmoud Abbas]] visited on [[Christmas Eve]] 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Peace talks spark tourist influx into Bethlehem|publisher=[[CBC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 24, 2007}}</ref>
In February 2007, [[Israel]]'s [[Shin Bet]] security agency arrested 20 men who were allegedly recruited for a "[[Hamas]]-linked cell" by a Muslim [[clergy|cleric]] in the Mosque of Omar.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Israel nabs 20 terror suspects|publisher=[[UPI]]|date=February 5, 2007}}</ref> Nevertheless, the mosque remained peaceful when Palestinian President [[Mahmoud Abbas]] visited on [[Christmas Eve]] 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Peace talks spark tourist influx into Bethlehem|publisher=[[CBC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 24, 2007}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:MosqueofOmar.jpg
File:MangerSquare.jpg
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.manar-al-athar.ox.ac.uk/pages/search.php?search=%21collection838 Photos of the Mosque of Omar] at the [[Manar al-Athar]] photo archive


{{Religious Sites in the Palestinian Authority}}
{{Religious Sites in the Palestinian Authority}}

Latest revision as of 19:16, 27 October 2024

This article is about mosque in Bethlehem. For the mosque with the same name in Jerusalem, see Mosque of Omar (Jerusalem).
Mosque of Omar
مسجد عمر
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationBethlehem, Palestine
Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem) is located in the West Bank
Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem)
Shown within the West Bank
Geographic coordinates31°42′16.34″N 35°12′20.03″E / 31.7045389°N 35.2055639°E / 31.7045389; 35.2055639
Architecture
Typemosque
Completed1860
Minaret(s)1

The Mosque of Omar (Arabic: مسجد عمر Masjid Umar) is the only mosque in the Old City of Bethlehem,[1][2] Palestine. It is located on the west side of Manger Square, across the square from the Church of the Nativity.

History

[edit]

Early Muslim period; location

[edit]

The mosque is named after Omar (Umar) ibn al-Khattab (c. 581–644), the second Rashidun Caliph. Having conquered Jerusalem, Omar had travelled to Bethlehem in 637 CE to issue a law that would guarantee respect for the shrine and safety of Christians and clergy.[3][dubious – discuss] Only four years after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Omar allegedly prayed at the location of the mosque.[4][dubious – discuss]

Yaqut al-Hamawi (d. 1229) relates how Caliph Omar was advised by a Christian monk to build a mosque in an arcaded building or haniyya, rather than transform the Church of the Nativity into a mosque.[5] Yaqut places the haniyya at a site where biblical kings David and Solomon were thought to be buried.[5] In the early 10th century, Eutychius of Alexandria (877–940) describes the haniyya as placed within a Christian site, facing south and thus being appropriate for Muslim prayer (qibla), and mentions Omar as allowing Muslims to pray in the haniyya only one at a time; and prohibiting them to touch anything there, as well as to call for or conduct congregational prayers inside.[5] Eutychius complained that in his time, the early 10th century, Muslims had broken these three rules.[5] The evolution of the status of this site of prayer seems to have been from an arcaded space attached to a Christian building, where at first Muslims held only limited rights for performing prayers, to a congregational mosque starting from the early tenth century.[5]

The exact location of the haniyya is not clear, but the place thought during late antiquity to be the burial site of David and Solomon was described by the Pilgrim of Bordeaux (330) as not far from the Basilica of the Nativity, and by the Piacenza Pilgrim (570) as half a Roman mile from the town centre.[5]

Modern mosque at new location (1860)

[edit]

The current mosque was built in 1860,[4] on land given for the purpose by Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Church.[2] It was renovated in 1955 during Jordanian control of the city.[3] In the past, before the advent of light bulbs, it was common for Muslims and Christians in Bethlehem to offer olive oil to light up the surroundings of the mosque, which was evidence of religious coexistence in the city.[3]

Tensions (2000s)

[edit]

On February 20, 2006, the Dalai Lama canceled his visit to the mosque, among other places, due to pressure from the government of China. The Palestinian National Authority had requested the cancellation. A foreign ministry official, Majdi al-Khaldi, told reporters,

At the request of the Chinese government, we have not received or dealt with him given his separatist ambitions for Tibet.... Given our friendly relations with the Chinese government, which supports the Palestinian people, we asked the local (Bethlehem) authorities as well as civil society groups not to receive him and they acquiesced with our request.[6][7]

In February 2007, Israel's Shin Bet security agency arrested 20 men who were allegedly recruited for a "Hamas-linked cell" by a Muslim cleric in the Mosque of Omar.[8] Nevertheless, the mosque remained peaceful when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited on Christmas Eve 2007.[9]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Valentine Low & Catherine Philp (24 January 2020). "Prince Charles offers strong message of support for Palestinians in Bethlehem". The Times. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Mosque of Omar: Mosque in Bethlehem". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Mosque of Omar GeoCities: Bethlehem Homepage
  4. ^ a b "Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem)". Atlas Travels and Tourism Agency. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Mattia Guidetti (2016). In the Shadow of the Church: The Building of Mosques in Early Medieval Syria. Arts and Archaeology of the Islamic World (Book 8). BRILL; Lam edition. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9789004325708. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  6. ^ "Palestinians refuse Dalai Lama visit again". Archived from the original on March 2, 2007.
  7. ^ "Dalai Lama visit". Middle East Times. House and Land Rights Network. 20 February 2006.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Israel nabs 20 terror suspects". UPI. February 5, 2007.
  9. ^ "Peace talks spark tourist influx into Bethlehem". CBC News. Associated Press. December 24, 2007.
[edit]
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