Umayyad invasions of Egypt (657–658)

The Umayyad invasions of Egypt (657-658) were a series of incursions and military expeditions against the governorship of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr who was loyal to the Caliphate of Ali, ordered by Mu'awiya I and led by Amr ibn al-As.

Umayyad invasions of Egypt
Part of First Fitna
Region under the control of Caliph Ali   Region under the control of Mu'awiya   Region under the control of Amr ibn al-As
Date 657–658 Location Egypt Result Umayyad victory Territorial changes Egypt brought under Umayyad rule
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Pro-Alids	Umayyad Caliphate Uthmaniyya
Commanders and leaders
Ali ibn Abi Talib Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr † Malik al-Ashtar X Al-Harith ibn Juhman al-Jufi  † Ibn Mudahim † Kinana ibn Bishr al-Tujibi †	Mu'awiya I Amr ibn al-As Yazid ibn al-Harith al-Kinani (WIA) Muawiya bin Hudayj al-Sakuni Abu al-A'war Maslama ibn Mukhallad al-Ansari
Strength
2,500+	6,000+

Political instability in Egypt

In 658 CE, Egypt faced significant political instability, intensified by the First Fitna (656–661), the first civil war among the Muslims triggered by the assassination of Uthman ibn Affan. Following his death, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of Prophet Muhammad, took leadership of the Caliphate, Ali's leadership was rejected by several supporters of Uthman, including by Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the long-time governor of Syria. To consolidate his power, Ali appointed his foster son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, who was also the son of the first Rashidun caliph Abu Bakr, as his governor of Egypt.^[1][2]

Muhammad's appointment turned to be unpopular, particularly amongst the supporters of Uthman. This led to tensions between factions which supported Ali and those who sought revenge for Uthman’s death. The situation further worsened when Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was unable to quell the growing resistance from the local Uthmanids, who saw Ali's leadership as illegitimate. The instability in Egypt was a result of lack of popular support for Ali's rule and Muhammad's governorship which paved the way for the Uthmanids to gain support for their agenda.^[3]

As the conflict intensified, Mu'awiya I sought to support the dissidents and topple Ali's rule over Egypt. Mu'awiya sent his forces, led by his top general Amr ibn al-As, to carry out an offensive against Ali's forces in Egypt. Amr, who was the first Arab governor and conqueror of Egypt, gathered support from the Uthmanids. The Umayyad forces swiftly defeated the troops led by Muhammad. After their victory, Amr ibn al-As restored himself as the governor of Egypt, pledging allegiance to Mu'awiya and consolidating Umayyad authority over Egypt and initiating a turning point in the First Fitna.

Expeditions against the Uthmanids

Uthmanids under Yazid ibn al Hārith, who had good ties with Muhammad's predecessor Qays ibn Sa'd, gathered at Kharbita. Muhammad launched an offensive against them but suffered setbacks, before following up with a second expedition which too failed to defeat the Uthmanids.^[4]

Invasion of Egypt (658)

In 658 CE, the political instability in Egypt, inflamed by the First Fitna, laid the foundation for the Umayyad takeover of Egypt. Following the death of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, the governor of Egypt under Ali ibn Abi Talib, the region fell into turmoil. The local Egyptian forces, split between the supporters of Ali and supporters of Uthman ibn Affan, supported by the Umayyad forces of Mu'awiya I, who led the opposition to Ali's rule across the Caliphate.

Mu'awiya sent his forces under Amr ibn al-As for the takeover of Egypt. The Umayyad force was documented to be around 6,000 troops, while the forces of Ali, led by Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, were approximately 2,500. The military engagement resulted in the defeat of Ali's forces and the annexation of Egypt by Mu'awiya with Amr ibn al-As as its governor. The conflict was a turning point during the civil war that led towards the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate.^[5][6][7][8]

See also

• Battle of Siffin
• Mu'awiya I's Southern Campaigns (658-661)
• Banu Najiyah revolt