Uthmân bin Affân رضي الله عنه: Events in Egypt and the Conquest of Africa

Events and Changes in Egypt

Abdullah bin Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) known as Ibn Abu Sarh was the foster brother of Uthmân bin Affân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). During the lifetime of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) he had renounced Islam but later confessed it wholeheartedly. Uthmân bin Affân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) sent him to Egypt as a governor and head of the public treasury while Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was kept simply as a military officer. When relations among the military officers worsened, the Caliph deposed Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and transferred the entire power of Egypt and Alexandria to Abdullah bin Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).

Although Abdullah bin Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was renowned among the brave horsemen of Arabia but Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was far ahead in experience and popularity among the Egyptians who were shocked at the dismissal of Amr. Their anger and dissatisfaction resulted in their revolt against Abdullah bin Saad. Besides, when the Caesar of Constantinople heard of the deposition of Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and the resulting uprisings in Egypt, he mobilized a huge army towards Alexandria under the command of a seasoned general. The Greeks in the city joined the camp of the Roman army and Alexandria fell to the Romans after slight resistance.

Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was again sent to Egypt as a governor who launched such a fierce attack at the Romans that they had to flee from Alexandria after sustaining heavy losses and a heavy toll on their soldiers. Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had conquered Egypt for the third time. Although he had vowed to raze the whole city to the ground after winning the battle, he forbade any such action. He rather built a mosque at the site where the massacre and plunder were called off.

Nevertheless, when peace and normalcy returned to the region and the administration was running smooth, Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was once again deposed and replaced by Abdullah bin Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). This time the decision of the Caliph made Abdullah bin Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) feel uneasy and uncomfortable over his reinstallation in Egypt, for his efforts to uphold the deteriorating situation of the region the last time had met with utter failure. However, he was now anxious to make amends for his past failures.

The Conquest of Africa

Abdullah bin Saad sought permission from Uthmân bin Affân to invade Africa. Africa was then considered a country, it included the area stretching between Tripoli and Tangiers. Moreover, Africa was then considered the conglomeration of those countries, which make up the northern part of the African continent, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco. Uthmân bin Affân allowed him to do what he wanted. He marched towards his destination at the head of an army of ten thousand. He first brought the chiefs of Barqah to obey and they agreed to pay Jizyah. The Muslim commander then advanced towards Tripoli capturing the territories falling on the way. At this stage the Caliphedispatched from Al-Madinah fresh reinforcements to lend help to Abdullah's army. The reinforcements included distinguished men like Abdullah bin Umar, Abdullah bin Abbâs, Abdullah bin Zubair, Amr bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), Husain bin Ali, and Ibn Ja'far.

When the detachment reached Barqah via Egypt, Abdullah bin Saad welcomed it. Now they jointly proceeded towards Tripoli. The Romans tried to put up resistance but were repulsed. After the fall of Tripoli, the Muslim troops marched ahead. Gregory, the King of Africa was the vassal of Caesar. When he came to know of the march of the Muslim army, he mobilized one hundred and twenty thousand men and came face to face with the Muslim forces. Abdullah bin Saad first invited Gregory to accept Islam. When Gregory flatly refused the invitation, he asked him to pay the Jizyah. When he rejected that also, the Muslim army drew up ranks and a fierce battle broke out, which remained indecisive. Fresh Muslim reinforcements appeared on the scene and the Muslim army called out Allâhu Akbar.

Since the distance between Al-Madinah and the seat of battle was so far, news could not be received immediately, so Uthmân bin Affân sent a fresh detachment from Al-Madinah headed by Abdur-Rahmân bin Zubair. When Gregory inquired of the slogan shouting by the Muslims, he was told that a fresh detachment had arrived and joined the Muslim forces. Gregory grew very anxious. However, the battle was not decided that day and both the armies withdrew to their camps.

The next day when the battle lines were again drawn Abdullah bin Saad was found missing. When Abdullah bin Zubair inquired about his absence, he was told that Gregory had proclaimed a reward of one hundred thousand dinars and the hand of his daughter to the man who would bring him the head of Abdullah bin Saad. For this reason Abdullah bin Saad failed to come to battlefield for fear of being a marked man. Abdullah bin Zubair went to his camp and asked Abdullah bin Saad to make a counter proclamation. He should offer a reward of one hundred thousand dinars from the booty, the hand of the daughter of Gregory and the conquered land to be governed by the man who would bring the head of Gregory.

With such a proclamation from Abdullah bin Saad, Gregory found himself in great trouble. Abdullah bin Saad appeared on the battlefield. Both the armies fought gallantly but the battle remained inconclusive. When the night set in, consultations were held for adopting a new strategy. Abdullah bin Zubair suggested that half of the troops should go to battlefield and the rest remain inside the camp. When the two armies exhausted by the daylong fighting leave the battlefield for camp, the fresh half of the Muslim army should attack the retreating Romans. The counsel received general acceptance. The third day of the battle this strategy was put to practice. When the two armies separated in the afternoon, Abdullah bin Zubair rushed out from the camp with the fresh detachment and charged the Romans. They could not withstand the attack and fled to their camp but could not save themselves because the Muslim force surrounded the camp and the Romans were either killed or captured. Gregory also fought against the Muslims and was put to the sword by Abdullah bin Zubair.

[It is said that the enemy forces had besieged the Muslim army, noticing this unfavorable condition, Abdullah bin Zubair took some brave Muslims with him and headed towards Gregory. The enemy took them as messengers from the Muslim army and let them go to the Gregory. They attacked and killed Gregory and raised his head on a spear. This scene uprooted the enemy and caused its destruction.]

The next day, Muslim army moved ahead and reached Sabitalah, the headquarters of (northern) Africa which was also conquered in a couple of days, and an immense amount of spoils fell into the hands of the Muslims. The Muslims marched further and laid siege around the fort of Jam, which was very strong and fortified. However, they could not stand the Muslim onslaught and yielded on the condition of paying one million as Jizyah. Abdullah bin Zubair set out to Al-Madinah with the glad tidings of the African conquest and one-fifth of the spoils. Abdullah bin Saad returned to Egypt from Africa after an absence of one year and three months.