Bethlehem, Palestine
Coordinates: 31.704539, 35.205564
The Mosque of Hz. Umar رضي الله عنه is the only mosque in the Old City of Bethlehem, Palestine.
The mosque is named after Hz. Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه , the second Rashidun Caliph.
Having conquered Jerusalem, ibn al-Khattab had travelled to Bethlehem in 637 CE to issue a law that would guarantee respect for the shrine and safety for Christians and clergy.
It is said that Hz. Umar رضي الله عنه prayed in the southern aisle of the Basilica of the Nativity, however, in the Pact of Omar, he decreed that the Basilica would remain a Christian place of worship.
The document stipulated that Muslims would be allowed to pray there only individually and prohibited the call to prayer (al-Adhan) from being made from the church walls.
Some say that the location of his praying is the actual site of the mosque on which the modern structure is built upon. However this is highly speculative.
Modern mosque at new location (1860)
The current mosque was built in 1860. It was built in 1860 on a plot given for the purpose by the Greek Orthodox Church, and was renovated in 1955, during Jordanian control of the city.
The land used for its construction was donated by Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church.
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, evidence of religious coexistence in the city.
Mosque
Inside its prayer rooms are on the second floors and are small spaces considering such a significant Muslim population in Bethlehem.
There is a women’s prayer room for Quranic studies.
Know This
It is located on the west side of Manger Square, across the square from the Church of the Nativity.
Take your shoes off and place in the bins to the right after entering.
If a female make sure to bring a scarf to cover your head.
