my faith
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ISLAM
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Sophronus was addressing ‘Umar’s
[r] slave for it happened to be his
turn to ride the camel.
The great
Khalif
smiled kindly and
said, “
I come in peace and I gladly
accept the keys to this blessed city.
You will live in peace and you will be
treated generously.
”
Sophronus looked on in utter disbe-
lief at the ragged and patched cloth-
ing of the great ‘Umar [r] and at his
muddy feet. “
Praise be to God!
Could it be?
” he said to himself. “
It
must be!
” In a loud voice the
Patriarch declared, “
You are the
very man that has been described in
the scriptures of old, the Torah and
the Bible, who would bring the mes-
sage of truth to the people of this
land. You are indeed the messenger
of the Last Prophet.
” Prophet ‘Isa [a]
had predicted that a follower of the
last Prophet would conquer the city
