Chapter 3: Part 6 - Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and The Egypt - The Gift of the Nile!
As long as Egypt remained firmly in Byzantine hands, the peace achieved in Syria could never be secure. After long reflection... Umar رضي الله عنه finally granted permission. But it came with remarkable caution. Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه would march...
THE BRIEF HISTORY OF ISLAM!
Danish Shafiq
6/12/202612 min read
Chapter 3: Part 6 - Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and The Egypt - The Gift of the Nile!
The opening of Jerusalem transformed the map of the ancient world. For centuries, the Byzantine Empire had ruled the eastern Mediterranean through a chain of powerful cities. Antioch... Jerusalem... Alexandria... Together, they formed the backbone of Roman power in the East.
Now Jerusalem had entered Muslim rule peacefully. Yet one great province still remained firmly under Byzantine control.
Egypt.
To many people, Egypt was simply another land. To the ancient world... It was life itself. Long before Rome became an empire... Long before Persia reached its greatest glory... The civilization of the Nile had already astonished mankind. Its fertile river nourished millions. Its ports connected Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. Its harvests fed entire empires. Its wealth sustained kings.
Whoever governed Egypt possessed not merely another province... But one of the greatest treasures on earth. For centuries, successive rulers had understood this. The Pharaohs... The Persians... The Greeks under Alexander... The Romans... Each had fought to possess the valley of the Nile.
Now it remained one of the richest provinces of the Byzantine Empire. Yet beneath its prosperity lay deep suffering. The native Coptic Christians had endured years of religious persecution under Byzantine rule because of theological disputes that divided Constantinople from the churches of Egypt.
Heavy taxation burdened ordinary farmers. Political authority rested in distant imperial hands. Many longed less for another conqueror... And more for a ruler who would govern with justice.
Far away in Madinah, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه continued carrying responsibilities that stretched across thousands of miles. Persia had fallen. Jerusalem had opened its gates. Yet Umar never allowed victory to distract him from governing. Every report from the provinces reached his attention. Every governor remained accountable. Every complaint was heard. Every public coin remained an Amanah before Allah سُبْحَانَهُ.
Among the commanders returning from the Syrian front was one man whose understanding of Egypt surpassed almost everyone else.
He was Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه.
Even before embracing Islam, Amr had travelled widely through the lands of Egypt and Syria. He understood its roads... Its people... Its strengths... And its weaknesses. More importantly... He understood its strategic importance.
One day, Amr رضي الله عنه entered Madinah and sought permission to speak privately with the Commander of the Believers. He spread a simple map before Umar رضي الله عنه. Then he pointed toward the fertile valley of the Nile. "O Commander of the Believers," he began, "If Egypt remains under Byzantine control, they will always possess the strength to threaten Syria and Palestine again. But if Allah سُبْحَانَهُ grants the Muslims Egypt, the Roman Empire will lose one of its greatest sources of wealth and power."
Umar رضي الله عنه listened silently. No one understood better than he did the weight of such a decision. Another campaign meant more fathers leaving their families. More mothers waiting for their sons. More lives were placed in danger. This was never a game of expanding borders.
Every decision would one day be questioned by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ.
For several days, Umar رضي الله عنه consulted the senior Companions. Opinions differed. Some believed the Ummah had already carried enough burdens.
Persia still required administration. Jerusalem had only recently entered Muslim rule. Perhaps it was wiser to consolidate before marching farther. Others saw what Amr رضي الله عنه saw. As long as Egypt remained firmly in Byzantine hands, the peace achieved in Syria could never be secure.
After long reflection... Umar رضي الله عنه finally granted permission. But it came with remarkable caution. Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه would march... Not with a vast imperial army... But with a carefully selected force of only a few thousand men. The objective was not reckless conquest. It was to test the situation carefully and avoid unnecessary bloodshed wherever possible.
As the small Muslim army prepared to depart, few could have imagined what lay ahead. They marched not toward another ordinary province... But toward the land of Musa عليه السلام... The land where Yusuf عليه السلام had risen from slavery to leadership... The land where Pharaoh had defied Allah سُبْحَانَهُ...
And where Allah سُبْحَانَهُ had demonstrated His power before all mankind. History had once again begun to move.
The Nile awaited.
And with it... Another chapter in the remarkable caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه.
A Story of a Letter!
The small Muslim army departed from Palestine with complete trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Its numbers were modest. Its provisions were limited. Its commander carried neither the wealth of kings nor the banners of an empire. Yet every soldier understood that they marched under an Amanah entrusted to them by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
As the army advanced toward the frontier of Egypt, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه remained in Madinah, reflecting upon the enormity of the decision he had made and was highly concerned about the safety of the troops because the Muslim army was small (around 4,000 men) compared to the vast Byzantine forces in Egypt.
Jerusalem had only recently entered Muslim rule. Persia still demanded careful administration. The Muslim state had expanded with astonishing speed. Umar feared one danger above all others: That the believers might advance faster than they could govern with justice. The burden of leadership weighed heavily upon his heart.
After another consultation with the senior Companions, he decided that if the army had not yet crossed into Egyptian territory, it should return.
He immediately dictated a letter to Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه and entrusted it to a swift rider. The messenger hurried south across the desert, determined to reach the army before it entered Egypt. Days later, the rider finally caught up with the Muslims. He handed the sealed letter to Amr رضي الله عنه. Amr recognized the seal of the Commander of the Believers.
Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه actively anticipated that the Khalifa's letter contained a recall order, so he utilized a clever logistical delay to keep his campaign alive. When Hazrat Umar's messenger reached the army near the border town of Rafah, Amr refused to physically accept or read the dispatch. Instead, he commanded his troops to accelerate their march, deliberately outpacing the formal delivery of the letter until they had safely crossed the frontier.
The army marched rapidly until they reached Arish, where Amr paused to consult the local inhabitants about their geography. Once the locals confirmed that Arish sat squarely within the borders of Egypt, Amr finally called the messenger forward to officially receive and open the letter.
The letter read:
"If this letter reaches you before you have entered Egypt, then return. But if it reaches you after you have entered Egypt, then continue your march, seeking the help of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ."
Amr رضي الله عنه smiled. The army had already crossed. The Commander of the Believers had left the final decision to Allah's سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ decree. The Muslims continued forward. When news later reached Umar رضي الله عنه, he did not express anger. Nor did he accuse Amr رضي الله عنه of disobedience.
He understood exactly what had happened. His commander had remained faithful to both the wording of the letter and the responsibility entrusted to him.
Thus, the expedition continued. Not because men insisted upon conquest... But because Allah سُبْحَانَهُ had opened the way before them. As the Muslim army pressed deeper into Egypt, they entered a land unlike anything many of them had ever seen. The endless deserts gradually gave way to the fertile valley of the Nile.
Villages lined the riverbanks. Fields stretched farther than the eye could see. Water wheels turned endlessly, lifting life from the great river that had sustained civilizations for thousands of years.
Many among the Muslims remembered the stories they had learned from the Qur'an. This was the land where Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام had risen from the depths of a prison to become the trusted guardian of Egypt's storehouses.
This was the land where Allah سُبْحَانَهُ had tested Pharaoh with signs that shook his kingdom. Here, Prophet Musa عليه السلام had stood fearlessly before one of history's most arrogant rulers and declared: "Indeed, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds." Here, the sea had parted by the command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ. Here, tyranny had drowned beneath the waves.
The believers could not help but reflect upon those sacred memories. Centuries had passed. Empires had risen. Empires had fallen.
Yet Allah's promise remained unchanged. The earth belongs to Him. He grants authority to whom He wills. And He removes it from whom He wills. Soon, another formidable obstacle appeared before the Muslims. Towering above the surrounding plain stood the mighty Fortress of Babylon. Its massive stone walls guarded the gateway to Lower Egypt.
Beyond it lay the road to Alexandria—the greatest city in the Byzantine world after Constantinople itself. The commanders understood immediately. If Babylon remained unconquered... Egypt could never truly be secured.
The next great chapter of the conquest was about to begin.
Before the Walls of Babylon!
The Muslims had now reached the greatest obstacle standing between them and the heart of Egypt. Before them rose the mighty Fortress of Babylon. Its enormous stone walls towered above the surrounding plain. Massive gates, fortified towers, deep defensive trenches, and seasoned Byzantine soldiers guarded every approach. For generations, the fortress had been regarded as nearly impregnable. Whoever controlled Babylon controlled the gateway to Lower Egypt and the road to Alexandria.
Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه surveyed the fortress quietly. He understood that this would not resemble the open battles of Yarmouk or al-Qadisiyyah. Walls could not be defeated by courage alone. Patience would become the greatest weapon. The Muslim army established its camp outside the fortress. No reckless assault was ordered.
Instead, Amr رضي الله عنه first called the defenders toward peace.
Following the guidance taught by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, they were invited before anything else to hear the message of Islam. If they chose not to accept it, they could remain upon their faith under Muslim protection through a peaceful agreement. War was never the first choice.
The Byzantine commanders rejected every proposal. Confident behind their towering walls, they believed time itself fought on their side. Inside the fortress were thousands of trained soldiers.
Outside stood a comparatively small Muslim force. The Romans were certain that hunger, exhaustion, or reinforcements from Constantinople would eventually force the Muslims to abandon the siege. Weeks turned into months. The gates remained shut. Arrows occasionally flew from the walls. Small engagements erupted outside the fortress.
Yet no decisive breakthrough came. Far away in Madinah, reports continued arriving before Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه. He listened attentively to every messenger. He knew that Egypt was too important to abandon, yet he also refused to spend Muslim lives carelessly.
After consulting the senior Companions, he decided to strengthen the army. Reinforcements were dispatched from Madinah. Among them were some of the bravest Companions of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Among those who joined the campaign was Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه—the cousin of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, one of the earliest Muslims, one of the ten Companions promised Paradise, and a warrior whose courage had become legendary throughout Arabia.
When he arrived, Amr رضي الله عنه welcomed him warmly. The Muslim army felt renewed confidence. The siege continued. Still the fortress refused to yield. Then came one of the boldest moments of the entire Egyptian campaign.
According to early historical reports, Al-Zubayr رضي الله عنه volunteered for an extraordinary mission. Under the cover of darkness, carrying only a scaling ladder and complete trust in Allah, he approached the towering walls.
The climb was perilous. One mistake meant certain death. Yet step by step, he ascended until he reached the summit. From above, he raised the Takbir.
"Allahu Akbar!"
The cry echoed across the night. The Muslim camp answered with thunderous voices.
"Allahu Akbar!"
The defenders were thrown into confusion. Believing that large numbers of Muslims had already entered the fortress, panic spread through sections of the Byzantine ranks. Soon afterwards, the gates were opened during the fierce fighting that followed, and the Muslim forces surged forward.
After months of patient endurance, Babylon finally fell. Yet what followed surprised many of Egypt's inhabitants. There was no massacre. No revenge. No destruction driven by hatred. The ordinary people were protected. Their homes were respected. Their property was safeguarded.
Many of the native Copts, who had long suffered under heavy Byzantine taxation and religious persecution, witnessed a kind of rule they had rarely experienced before. Justice replaced vengeance. Discipline replaced chaos. Promises were honored.
The Muslims understood that victory imposed responsibilities before Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ far greater than defeat.
Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه refused to allow his soldiers to become intoxicated by success. "This," he reminded them, "is not the end." He was right. Far to the north... Beside the Mediterranean Sea... One city still remained.
Alexandria. The jewel of Egypt. The city founded by Alexander the Great. The home of one of the ancient world's greatest libraries. The strongest Byzantine stronghold remaining in Africa.
The road to Alexandria had now been opened.
History was preparing for another turning point.
Alexandria — The Jewel of the Mediterranean!
With Babylon now under Muslim control, the road leading north lay open. Yet one final obstacle remained. Alexandria. For nearly a thousand years, Alexandria had stood among the greatest cities on earth.
Founded by Alexander the Great, it had become a meeting place of civilizations. Merchants arrived from Africa, Arabia, Byzantium, and beyond. Its magnificent harbor connected Egypt to the Mediterranean, while its scholars and libraries had once drawn the greatest minds of the ancient world.
For the Byzantine Empire, Alexandria was more than a prosperous city. It was Egypt's crown. As long as Alexandria remained in Roman hands, the empire could still hope to reclaim everything it had lost.
Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه understood this well. He advanced cautiously, refusing to allow victory to produce arrogance. Town after town opened peacefully.
Many communities, especially among the native Coptic population, preferred negotiation over war. They had witnessed the discipline of the Muslim army and compared it with decades of imperial taxation, political oppression, and religious disputes imposed from Constantinople.
The Muslims sought no revenge. No churches were demolished. No civilians were hunted. No fields were burned. Instead, treaties were written. Lives were protected. Property was secured. Those who wished to remain upon Christianity were guaranteed the freedom to worship, while those who entered into treaty became protected citizens under the authority of the Muslim state.
Gradually, the Byzantine commanders recognized an uncomfortable reality. No great imperial army was coming. Yarmouk had broken Byzantine military power in Syria. Jerusalem had already surrendered peacefully. The empire no longer possessed the strength to rescue Egypt.
After prolonged negotiations and military pressure, Alexandria finally opened its Gates. The great city that generations had believed could never fall now entered Muslim rule. Yet the scene that followed astonished many of its inhabitants. There were no triumphal processions. No emperor entered wearing a golden crown. No victorious army celebrated by humiliating the defeated.
The Muslims entered with discipline. Justice. And Gratitude to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
For them, Alexandria was never a prize. It was another Amanah. Another trust. Another city whose people would one day stand beside them before Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
The Birth of a New Capital!
Many expected Amr ibn al-'As رضي الله عنه to establish the center of Muslim rule inside magnificent Alexandria. Its palaces were unmatched. Its harbor connected the known world. Its wealth surpassed almost every city in the region. Instead, Amr established a new settlement near Babylon Fortress.
There, the Muslim army had pitched its tents during the campaign.
According to the well-known historical narration, when preparations were made to depart, a dove had built its nest upon the tent of Amr رضي الله عنه. Unwilling to disturb the tiny creature, he ordered the tent to remain where it stood until the bird had finished nesting.
Around that very place, a new city gradually emerged. It became known as Fustat—"The Tent."
What began as a simple military encampment would grow into the first capital of Islamic Egypt and one of the great cities of the Muslim world.
When news reached Madinah, some suggested transferring the provincial capital to Alexandria itself. Its beauty was undeniable. Its position seemed ideal.
Yet Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه looked beyond appearances. He replied with remarkable foresight. He did not wish the sea to stand between Madinah and one of its provinces. He desired uninterrupted communication between the Caliphate and its governors so that justice, consultation, and accountability would never be delayed by the dangers of the Mediterranean.
Once again...
The simplicity of Umar's (رضي الله عنه) thinking surpassed the grandeur of empires. Justice More Powerful Than Conquest! As Egypt settled under Muslim administration, Umar رضي الله عنه sent repeated instructions to every governor.
Fear Allah concerning the people. Do not burden them with unjust taxation. Do not oppress the weak. Do not allow your authority to make you arrogant. Remember that every ruler will stand before Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
These were not merely political instructions. They were articles of faith. The Companions understood something that many rulers throughout history had forgotten. Land could be conquered by armies. Hearts could only be won through justice.
Many Egyptians soon discovered that they were permitted to worship freely, maintain their churches, conduct their trade, and seek justice before Muslim judges. The contrast was impossible to ignore. The strength of Islam did not lie merely in its victories.
It lay in the character of those who carried it. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had not produced conquerors.
He had produced servants of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. And now... The fruits of that Prophetic education were visible from the deserts of Arabia to the banks of the Nile.
The Legacy of Egypt!
Within only a few years, the world had changed beyond recognition. Persia had collapsed. Jerusalem had opened its gates. Egypt had entered the fold of the Muslim state. The two greatest empires that had dominated the Near East for centuries had lost much of the authority they once believed could never disappear.
Yet Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه never described these events as the triumph of Arabs over Persians... Or Muslims over Romans... He understood a far greater reality. Victory belongs to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ alone. He grants authority to whom He wills. And He removes authority from whom He wills.
Whenever people establish justice... Allah سُبْحَانَهُ elevates them. Whenever they abandon justice... No empire can save them. Standing in Madinah, far from the palaces of Alexandria and the treasures of Persia, Umar رضي الله عنه remained exactly as he had always been. His clothes still bore patches. His food remained simple. His nights were spent walking among the poor.
His greatest fear was never losing an empire. It was standing before Allah with the rights of even one oppressed soul upon his shoulders. The world had become larger than anyone in Arabia could once have imagined. But Umar's heart had never left the mosque of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
For him... Every victory... Every city... Every province... Every treasure... Was only another trust for which he would soon answer before the Lord of the Worlds. And indeed... The greatest test of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه's life was no longer upon the battlefield.
It was waiting quietly inside Madinah itself.
A test that would bring the remarkable life of one of Islam's greatest leaders to its earthly conclusion.