Nusaybah family

The Nusaybah Clan ( ) alternatively spelt Nusseibeh is the name of the oldest Arab family in Jerusalem . The Nusseibeh family has a long history and tight bonds with the Holy Land , Jerusalem , since the days their first forefathers arrived into Jerusalem in the 7th century. According to tradition, the Nusaybah family took its name from a female companion or Sahabah of the Islamic prophet Muhammad named Nusaybah . She was a member of the Ansar who transferred their political power over Medina to the prophet. Nusayba fought along with Mohammed in battle and was an early example of women taking leadership roles in Islam . Since the arrival of Islam in Jerusalem in the seventh century, the Sunni Muslim family has held the keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre . This arrangement emerged during the days of the second Muslim caliph , Umar Ibn al-Khattab , who hoped to avoid clashes among rival Christian sects for control over the church. Although symbolic, the arrangement has provided the stability the Christians of the city needed, is a symbol of tolerance and inter-religious harmony, and gave the Nusseibeh family a visible role in Christian activities in Jerusalem, which include pilgrimages and visits by Western Christians .

Closing ceremony of Holy Sepulchre church The Nussaiba Clan ( ; alternatively spelt Nusaibah , Nuseibeh , and Nusseibeh ) is the oldest Muslim dynasty in Jerusalem . The Nussaiba family has a long history and tight bonds with the Holy Land , Jerusalem , since the days their first forefathers arrived into Jerusalem in the 7th century. According to tradition, the Nusseibeh family took its name from a female companion or Sahabiyah of the Islamic prophet Muhammad named Nusaybah bint Ka'ab . She was a member of the Ansar who transferred their political power over Medina to Muhammad. Nussaiba fought along with Muhammed in battle and was an early example of women taking leadership roles in Islam . Since the arrival of Islam in Jerusalem in the seventh century, the Sunni Muslim family has held the keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre alongside the Joudeh Al-Goudia family (who were added to the original arrangement in the time of Saladin , the Muslim conqueror who seized the holy city from the Crusaders in 1187). This arrangement emerged during the days of the second caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab , who hoped to avoid clashes among rival Christian sects for control over the church. Although symbolic, the arrangement has provided the stability the Christians of the city needed, and is a symbol of tolerance and inter-religious harmony, and gave the Nussaiba family a visible role in Christian activities in Jerusalem, which include pilgrimages and visits by Western Christians .

Palestinian family in Jerusalem Closing ceremony of Holy Sepulchre church The Nussaiba Clan , commonly spelt in English as Nuseibeh ( ; also spelt Nusaibah and Nusseibeh ) is the oldest Muslim dynasty in Jerusalem . The Nussaiba family has a long history and tight bonds with the Holy Land , and the Christian people of the Levant, since the days their first forefathers conquered Jerusalem in the 7th century. According to tradition, the Nusseibeh family took its name from a female companion or Sahabiyah of the Islamic prophet Muhammad named Nusaybah bint Ka'ab . She was a member of the Ansar who transferred their political power over Medina to Muhammad. Nusaybah fought along with Muhammad in battle and was an early example of women taking leadership roles in Islam . Since the arrival of Islam in Jerusalem in the seventh century, the Sunni Muslim family has held the keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , Christianity's holiest site, alongside the Joudeh family (who were added to the original arrangement in the time of Saladin , the Muslim conqueror who seized the holy city from the Crusaders in 1187). This arrangement emerged during the days of the second caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab , who hoped to avoid clashes among rival Christian sects for control over the church. Although symbolic, the arrangement has provided the stability the Christians of the city needed, and is a symbol of tolerance and inter-religious harmony, and gave the Nussaiba family a visible role in Christian activities in Jerusalem, which include pilgrimages and visits by Western Christians . The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City is Christianity's most hallowed shrine. It's believed that the rock-cut tomb at the heart of the church was where the body of Jesus Christ was once laid. Nina Strochlic, Christian Monks Square Off at One of Jerusalem’s Holiest Sites, Daily Beast , 07.04.2013 [1] Oren Liebermann , Two Muslim families entrusted with care of holy Christian site for centuries, CNN , March 27, 2016. The rival groups of worshippers fought not only with their fists, but with crucifixes, candlesticks, chalices, lamps and incense-burners, and even bits of wood which they tore from the sacred shrines. The fighting continued with knives and pistols smuggled into the Holy Sepulchre by worshippers of either side. - Orlando Figes, "The Crimean War", p 2. We Christians can't trust ourselves with the keys to our own holiest site. But these good Muslim stewards have, for centuries, helped to save us from ourselves.