Amr Bin Al-Aas

Amr b Al-Aas, pre-Islamic period

'Amr b Al-Aas was a prominent member of the Banu Sahm section of the Quraish. His father Al-Aas b Wail was the chief of the Banu Sahm and was a well to do merchant who commanded great influence among the Quraish of Makkah. When the Holy Prophet of Islam announced his mission, Al-Aas was one of the prominent members of the Quraish who pressed all their influence into service to oppose the Holy Prophet and torture the Muslims. Hisham a brother of 'Amr, however, accepted Islam in the early years of the mission of the Holy Prophet, and in spite of the pressure of his father did not recant from Islam. Hisham was one of the Muslims to migrate to Abysinnia. 'Amr headed the delegation that the Quraish sent to Abysinnia to prevail upon the ruler of Abysinnia to turn away the Muslims from his country. The mission failed and the ruler of Abysinnia refused to oblige the Quraish. After the migration of the Holy Prophet to Madina 'Amr took part in all the battles that the Quraish fought against the Muslims.

Conversion to Islam

After the pact of Hudaibiya, the truth dawned on 'Amr b Al-Aas and he hastened to Madina along with Khalid b Walid where they accepted Islam. After conversion to Islam, 'Amr b Al-Aas proved to be a great asset for Islam. The Holy Prophet entrusted him with some important missions which he fulfilled successfully; Later the Holy Prophet appointed him as the Governor of Oman. After the death of the Holy Prophet, when Abu Bakr became the Caliph he was recalled from Oman to lead campaigns against some of the apostate tribes. After the end of the apostasy wars he was commissioned to undertake campaigns in Palestine and Syria. During the Caliphate of Umar he invaded Egypt and conquered it. In the history of Islam he enjoys fame as the "Conqueror of Egypt". Umar appointed him as the Governor of Egypt. When Othman became the Caliph, he allowed 'Amr to continue as the Governor of Egypt for some time. Later 'Amr was deposed and Othman appointed his foster brother as the Governor of Egypt.

Amr's opposition to Othman

'Amr b Al-Aas felt much grieved at his deposition. Back in Madina, 'Amr had an interview with Othman which ended in bitterness. He began to criticize the administration of Othman in harsh terms. He played an important part in fanning discontent against the caliphate of Othman. In the revolt against Othman, the Egyptians were in the forefront and one of the grievances of the Egyptians was the deposition of 'Amr b Al-Aas from the governorship of Egypt 'Amr b Al-Aas made no secret of his opposition to Othman. He openly challenged Othman that he would raise the entire Muslim world against him. When the revolt against Othman gained momentum, and Madina came to be thronged with rebels from various parts of the Muslim world, 'Amr b Al-Aas left Madina for his lands in Palestine. He was in Palestine when Othman was assassinated.

Caliphate of Ali

After the assassination of Othman, 'Amr b Al-Aas decided to follow a policy of neutrality and watch further developments. When Ali was elected as the Caliph, 'Amr b Al-Aas neither took the oath of allegiance to Ali nor opposed him. 'Amr b Al-Aas had expected that Ali would offer him the governorship of Egypt. If Ali had offered him the governorship of Egypt he would have offered him allegiance. In the absence of such offer 'Amr b Al-Aas decided to remain in Palestine and watch further developments. Ali appointed Qais b Sa'ad as the Governor of Egypt. Qais proved to be a good Governor, and he kept Egypt safe for Ali. Muawiyah succeeded in creating differences between Ali and Qais which culminated in the deposition of Qais. Amr b Al-Aas expected that Ali would in his own interests appoint him as the Governor of Egypt. When Ali appointed Muhammad b Abu Bakr as the Governor of Egypt, 'Amr b Al-Aas despaired of any recognition from Ali. That threw him in the lap of Muawiyah.

Muawiyah and 'Amr b Al-Aas

Muawiyah was shrewd enough to see that for any confrontation with Ali, it was necessary that Egypt should be wrested from the control of Ali. It was plain enough that if Egypt was to be with Ali, Egypt could very well thrust a dagger in the back of Syria. It was in this context that Muawiyah tried to get Qais removed from the governorship. He succeeded in this effort when Ali deposed Qais b Sa'ad and appointed Muhammad b Abu Bakr in his place as the Governor of Egypt. Muhammad b Abu Bakr was a rash impetuous young man, and Muawyiah felt sure that he would not be able to effectively control the affairs of Egypt. Muawiyah's plan was to create disturbances in Egypt, and take advantage of such disturbances to capture Egypt. For this purpose he needed a man who commanded influence in Egypt. When he looked around he realized that the most suitable person in this behalf was 'Amr b Al-Aas. He accordingly invited 'Amr b Al-Aas to Damascus. When 'Amr came to Damascus he was given an almost royal reception. The two men agreed to make common cause against Ali. Muawiyah decided to make 'Amr the Commander-in-Chief of his forces. He was also promised the governorship of Egypt on the conquest of that province. Such alliance between Muawiyah and 'Amr b Al-Aas was to prove a great setback for Ali. It is strange that Muawiyah fought against Ali to claim vengeance for the blood of Othman, and yet entrusted the command of his forces to a man who had actually incited the Egyptians to revolt, and had openly defied and thrown a challenge to Othman.