Religious Tolerance

The conquest of Jerusalem in 638 CE by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab marked the peaceful Islamic liberation of the holy city, establishing principles of religious tolerance and protection that would characterize Islamic rule in Jerusalem for centuries.

The legal status accorded to Christians, Jews and other recognised religious minorities under Islamic rule. It secured life, property, worship and communal autonomy in return for a special tax and defined restrictions, and lasted into the twentieth century.

The Mughal Empire (1526-1857) ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for three centuries, creating a distinctive Indo-Islamic civilization with magnificent architecture, sophisticated administration, and lasting cultural achievements blending Persian, Central Asian, and Indian traditions.

The historic and humble entry of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab into Jerusalem in 638 CE, demonstrating Islamic values of humility, justice, and religious tolerance through his personal conduct and the establishment of the Umariyya Covenant protecting Christian rights.