الرحلةThe Journey

عمرو بن العاص

'Amr ibn al-'As (RA)

Also known as: Amr ibn al-As, Amru al-As

c. 49 BH – 43 AH · c. 574–664 CE

Companions

Commander who brought Egypt into Islam and founded al-Fustat; one of the shrewdest men of his age.

'Amr was a leading man of Quraysh, known for his intelligence and eloquence. Before Islam, Quraysh sent him to Abyssinia to have the Muslim refugees handed back, without success. He accepted Islam in 8 AH, and the Prophet ﷺ placed him in command of the expedition of Dhat al-Salasil and later sent him as governor to Oman.

Under Abu Bakr and 'Umar he commanded in Palestine. He then led the army that brought Egypt under Muslim rule, founding al-Fustat and the mosque that still bears his name. During the strife between 'Ali and Mu'awiyah he sided with Mu'awiyah and acted as his arbiter after Siffin. He died as governor of Egypt in 43 AH.

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Life journey

  1. c. 574 CE Makkah مكة
    Was sent by Quraysh to Abyssinia to ask the Negus to return the Muslim refugees; the Negus refused.
  2. 629 CE Madinah المدينة
    Came to Madinah and accepted Islam in 8 AH, together with Khalid ibn al-Walid.
  3. 640 CE Fustat (Old Cairo) الفسطاط
    Led the conquest of Egypt and founded al-Fustat and its mosque.
  4. 646 CE Madinah المدينة
    Removed as governor of Egypt under 'Uthman; the year he left Egypt is approximate.
  5. 658 CE Fustat (Old Cairo) الفسطاط
    Died 664 CE · 43 AH
    Governor of Egypt again under Mu'awiyah until his death.

Places in their life

The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
Photo: Adli Wahid (minor modifications by Basile Morin), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
Photo: TheHadiRahim, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Mosque of 'Amr ibn al-'As, al-Fustat
The Mosque of 'Amr ibn al-'As, al-Fustat
Photo: لا روسا, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Ibn Hisham, al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (The embassy to the Negus; the conversion of 'Amr)
  • al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk (The conquest of Egypt)
  • Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Birth year is an estimate (he is reported to have died at about 90). Death reported as 42, 43 or later. Please check the neutral wording on Siffin.