Among the historical stations that exemplified the Islamic compassion toward non-Muslims is the Islamic conquest of Syria. Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) feared he might hurt the feelings of Christians when he visited Sham after its conquest, as narrated by Abdullah bin Qais: “I was with Abu Ubayd who received Umar when he arrived in Sham. On his way, he met the Almuqqalasun (Christian folklore band), who in celebration of his arrival danced with swords and basil. Umar said, ‘Stop them.’ Abu Ubayd said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, this is their custom, and if you were to prevent them such a pleasure, they would perceive it as a breach of the contract [toward them].’ So [Umar] said, ‘Leave them be, Umar and his family are in obedience to Abu Ubayd.’” (Kitab al-Amwal, by Abu Ubayd)