ISLAMICJERUSALEM AS A MODEL FOR MULTICULTURALISM IN THE EARLY MUSLIM PERIOD

The 10th International Academic Conference on Islamicjerusalem Studies-2008

ISLAMICJERUSALEM: MODEL FOR MULTICULTURALISM IN THE EARLY MUSLIM PERIOD

Centre for Islamicjerusalem Studies

Al-Maktoum Institute

The first Muslim Fatih of Islamicjerusalem in the year 16AH / 637CE was an event both remarkable and long-lasting in its effects. It may be viewed as a fundamental landmark, not merely in the history of the region, nor even in Muslim history, but as an event which reshaped relations between peoples of diverse faiths who inhabited the region. This historical juncture contrasted significantly with the destruction, killing, and displacement that had characterised the region's history until then.

The first Muslim Fatih of Islamicjerusalem in the year 16AH / 637CE was an event both remarkable and long-lasting in its effects. It may be viewed as a fundamental landmark, not merely in the history of the region, nor even in Muslim history, but as an event which reshaped relations between peoples of diverse faiths who inhabited the region. This historical juncture contrasted significantly with the destruction, killing, and displacement that had characterised the region's history until then.

The arrival of Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the highest political and religious authority and reference in the Muslim establishment, during the early summer of year 16 AH/ 637 CE in Aelia marked the beginning of a new and distinguished phase in the relations between followers of the three great Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Indeed, the foundations for future relations between the three faiths were firmly established during that historical visit in the form of what is known in history as AI-'Uhda al-Umariyya or Umar's Assurance of Safety to the people of Aelia.  In this context, Islamicjerusalem has been argued by Professor Abd Al-Fattah El-Awaisi as a model for multiculturalism.

This year’s Conference examined these issues in depth from various dimensions.

Conference Programme

The Conference programme consisted of panels of papers, organised under a common theme, as follows:

Islamicjerusalem as a Model for Multiculturalism
Prof. Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi – Founder of the    New Field of Inquiry of Islamicjerusalem Studies

Frameworks of Plurality in Islam: Saḥifat al-Madina and Al-‘Uhdah al-Umariyyah
Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh – Al-Maktoum Institute

The Notions of the “Other” and Apocalyptic Warfare in the Byzantine Attitudes & Policies towards Seventh-Century Jerusalem
Dr Yuri Stoyanov – The Kenyon Institute, East Jerusalem

The Re-Admission of the Jews in Islamicjerusalem during the first Muslim Conquest in the Seventh Century
Mataz Kazmouz – Al-Maktoum Institute

The Attitude of Christians towards the first Muslim Fatih of Islamicjerusalem
Dr Maher Abu-Munshar – Al-Maktoum Institute

Armenians in Islamicjerusalem
Dr Jacob G. Ghazarian – Wolfson College, University of Oxford

Christian-Muslim Relations in the Early Islamic Period: The Archaeological Evidence
Dr Robert Schick – University of Bamberg

The 10th International Conference on Islamicjerusalem Studies, held on Monday, February 4, 2008, at the Al-Maktoum Institute, was themed “Islamicjerusalem: A Model for Multiculturalism in the Early Muslim Period.” Organised by the Centre for Islamicjerusalem Studies, the conference brought together distinguished academics from around the world who presented on various issues within the field. Among other participants, the conference was also attended by visiting students from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The opening session began with a welcome speech by Professor Malory Nye, Acting Principal of Al-Maktoum Institute.  This was followed by an introduction to the field of Islamicjerusalem Studies by Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi, also the Director for the Centre. He provided the definition of Islamicjerusalem and noted that the conference would address one of the elements within Islamicjerusalem, namely the “inclusive vision.” He also emphasised the unique nature of Islamicjerusalem in relation to multiculturalism.  

Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, founder of field, gave the keynote address in which he hypothesised that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, under whom the first Muslim faith (conquest) of Islamicjerusalem took place, established a multicultural society there through cultural engagement. He noted that as plurality and diversity are inherent in core Muslim sources (cf. Qur’ān 49:13), ‘Umar implemented this inclusive vision by being proactive in implementing policies that preserved human dignity and property, thus leading to mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Thus, in the context of contemporary times, he asserted that peace cannot be achieved without justice. 

In the second session, titled “Plurality and exclusion”, Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh of Al-Maktoum Institute, presented his paper discussing the frameworks of plurality in Islam with specific reference to the Sahīfat al-Madīna (Madīnah Constitution) and Al-‘Uhdah al-‘Umariyyah (‘Umar’s Assurance of Safety). The common elements between the two, he noted, were guarantees of freedom (religious or otherwise) and citizenship. He was followed by Dr. Yuri Stoyanov, of the Kenyon Institute in East Jerusalem, whose paper dealt with how Christians and Jews perceived the religious “other” within eschatological and apocalyptic terms. This was particularly significant because it explained the “expectant” attitude towards Muslims before the fatih of Islamicjerusalem. Finally, Mataz Kazmouz, an Islamicjerusalem PhD student at Al-Maktoum Institute, presented his research on the re-admission of the Jews in 7th century Islamicjerusalem, based on evidence from the early sources and a Cairo Geniza fragment and Karaite commentaries. 

The third session, titled, “Christians in Islamicjerusalem”, was commenced by Dr. Maher Abu-Munshar of Al-Maktoum Institute, who noted that while some Christians may have been hostile towards the Muslims, a majority were nevertheless welcoming in their approach. Following him, Dr. Robert Shick from the University of Bamberg, took a different approach whereby he shared intriguing archaeological evidence to examine the nature of Christian-Muslim relations in Islamicjerusalem. A series of excavations reveal that, for the most part, churches continued to be used unaffected by the Muslim fatih, while some new construction took place as well during the early period. The last paper of the conference was presented by Dr. Jacob Ghazarian from Wolfson College at Oxford University, who shed light on the status and role of Armenians in Islamicjerusalem. He noted that while they were oppressed under the Byzantine rulers, this oppression was ended under the leadership of ‘Umar during the Muslim fatih of the region. Later Muslim rulers, too, generally practised tolerance towards them, permitting them religious freedom in both belief and practice.

The last session was a Roundtable Discussion chaired by Professor El-Awaisi. He brought up a number of points for discussion, such as multiculturalism and cultural engagement, which elicited some debate among the audience. Discussions also touched on how to take these ideas for future implementation to ensure an ethos of multiculturalism. Many agreed that there was a need to develop this field of study within the Arab and Muslim world. The conference concluded with Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi and Professor Malory Nye thanking everyone for their participation.