: For 1000 Years, Muslims Hold Key to Christianity’s Holiest Shrine

With the many different denominations of Christianity vying for access and control over the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, it’s a wonder that it remains an oasis of tranquility in the turbulent Holy Land. This peace is partly due to the fact that none of these denominations are entrusted with the keys to the place. That honor belongs to the Palestinian Muslim Nuseibeh family, who has opened and closed the massive wooden doors of the holiest church in Christiandom for nearly 1000 years. Wajeeh Nuseibeh, a former electronics repairman who is now in charge of the door (another Muslim family, the Joudehs, is in charge of keeping the 10-inch key), admits his family has taken on an unusual job. “Some [Christians] are nervous when they hear that Muslims are the door keepers,” he said. “I tell them this is the reality of this place. We are protecting Christianity to give them their freedom to pray.”

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.