Uthmân bin Affân رضي الله عنه: Conquests of Cyprus, Rhodes, Persia and the Suppression of Revolts

The Conquest of Cyprus and Rhodes

Abdullah bin Nâfi' became the governor of Egypt the same year, 27 AH, that Abdullah bin Saad came back to Egypt from the other parts of northern Africa. Constantine again rose to make military preparations for a fresh battle. In 28 AH, he dispatched a part of his navy towards Africa, which reached the African coast and demanded tribute for Caesar. But the Africans flatly refused to give any because Caesar had lent no help when they were under the Muslim attack and so they no longer held him as their ruler. This rude refusal led to fighting between the Africans and the Roman army, which resulted in the defeat of Africans. The Romans then advanced towards Alexandria. Abdullah bin Nâfi' was ready to give them battle. In the meantime Caesar himself set off to conquer Alexandria at the head of a fleet of six hundred boats. The Roman forces proceeded to Alexandria from both sides. A fierce fight took place, which ended with the destruction of the Romans. They escaped to Cyprus, which they used as their naval headquarters and an arsenal for their weapons.

At the time of the death of Umar Fâruq, Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the governor of Damascus and Jordan while Hims and Qinnasrin were governed by Umair bin Saeed Ansâri. When he submitted his resignation after the demise of Umar Fâruq, Hims and Qinnasrin were consolidated with the province of Syria under Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Palestine was also consolidated with Syria under Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) after the death of Abdur-Rahmân bin Alqamah, the governor of Palestine. Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) gradually became the ruler of all the districts of Syria.

During the last days of the Fâruqi caliphate, Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had sought permission to invade Cyprus from the Syrian coast. However, Umar Fâruq had some hesitation in giving permission for such a campaign and the matter remained undecided until Umar passed away. Uthmân bin Affân permitted the naval attack on condition that nobody was forced to take part in the adventure. Inspired by the efforts of Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), a party agreed to invade Cyprus. The party included Abu Dhar Ghifâri, Abud-Darda', Shaddâd bin Aus, Ubâdah bin Sâmit and his wife Umm Harâm bint Milhân. Abdullah bin Qais was made the commander of the detachment, which left for Cyprus by boat. When Constantine escaped from Alexandria, he had taken refuge in Cyprus. An Islamic naval force chased him by boat from Egypt and reached Cyprus. And this fresh naval detachment from Syria also descended on the coast of Cyprus. When Umm Harâm mounted on a horse, it ran away with her and she fell down and died. It happened exactly according to the prophecy of the Prophet. Constantine could not withstand the attack and fled to Constantinople with great difficulties and succumbed to death.

However, according to other sources, frustrated by his defeat after defeat some people killed him in his bathroom. Thus Cyprus easily fell to the Muslims. Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also arrived in Cyprus with a detachment. After finishing his job in Cyprus he sailed to Rhodes. There was a fierce battle but the Romans yielded after strong resistance. On this island there was a giant-like copper idol, one of its legs was on the coast of the island and another on a nearby islet off the coast. The strait between the two legs was so wide that ships would easily pass between them. Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) broke the idol into pieces and sent them with the troops going back to Alexandria where a Jew purchased them all. The conquests of Cyprus and Rhodes opened the door for Muslim campaigns against Constantinople and other countries of the region. These events took place at the end of 28 AH or at the beginning of 29 AH.

Administrative Changes in Persia

In 27 AH, the people of Basrah sent a deputation to Al-Madinah to lodge a complaint against the governor Abu Musa Ash’ari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Uthmân bin Affân immediately replaced him with his cousin, Abdullah bin Âmir bin Kurz bin Rabî'ah bin Habib bin Abd Shams, who was only 25 years old. The Caliph not only installed him as the governor of Basrah but also as the commander of the army of Oman and Bahrain, which until then was under Uthmân bin Abul-Âs Thaqafi. Ubaidillah bin Ma'mar, the governor of Khurâsan was now transferred to Persia. The governorship of Khurâsan was given to Umair bin Uthmân bin Saad who managed the affairs with skill and strong hands and captured the territory up to Farghâna. He, Umair bin Uthmân was deposed from the governorship of Khurâsan between 27 and 28 AH, and Ibn Ahmar was substituted for him. Abdur-Rahmân bin Abs was made the governor of Kirmân but was soon deposed making room for Asim bin Amr, while Imân bin Nufail was brought to govern Sajastân.

Revolts of the Persians and the Islamic Conquests

Since administrative changes took place rather quickly the Persians took it as a sign of providence and so they indulged in hatching conspiracies against the administration. They began to prepare for a fresh encounter with the Muslims. The centers of these uprisings and preparations were Istakhar and Jur. Ubaidillah bin Ma'mar, the governor of Persia invaded Istakhar in 27 AH, and was martyred in the encounter with the result the detachment under his command scattered and escaped. Hearing this, Abdullah bin Âmir, the governor of Basrah marched forward with his army with Uthmân bin Abul-Âs at the vanguard. Abdullah bin Amir turned towards Istakhar while Harim bin Haiyân laid siege around Jur. The Persians put up strong resistance but they ran away after a bloody battle and Istakhar fell to the Muslims.

Harim bin Haiyân's siege of Jur was protracted. During this period Haram fasted in the day and fought with the enemy too. He would broke his fast in the evening followed by prayers. Once he did not get bread after breaking the fast. He observed fast the next day in the same state. However, he did not get a meal that day either. The whole week passed in successive fasts without food. When he grew too weak he said to his servant, "What has happened to you my son. You fail to give me bread and I am keeping fast with water alone for a week." He replied, "My master; I bake bread for you daily without fail, it is quite amazing that you didn't get it." The next day the servant baked bread and lay in wait to see who was taking it away. He was shocked to notice that a dog came and took the bread and made off with it. He followed the dog and saw that it went towards the fortification of the city and it entered the city through a sewer. The servant came back and related the whole event to Harim bin Haiyân. He too was amazed. Haram and a few adventurous persons went into the sewer, which led them inside the fortifications and they opened the gates after killing the watchmen. In this way the Muslim army made an easy entry into the city and conquered it. The uprisings both in Istakhar and Jur were heavily put down and the insurgents met their doom.