 There were already converts to Islam among the city 's Greek @-@ speaking Christian population before Gaza 's capitulation to the Muslims . At the near end of the Byzantine era , Gaza had become the home of an increasingly influential group of Arab traders from Mecca , including Umar ibn al @-@ Khattab , who later became the second ruler of the Islamic Caliphate . Muhammad visited the city more than once before being a prophet of Islam . 
