The kings of Nubia sought the favor of the Sultanate in Cairo, seeking its satisfaction. Just as they drew close to it with valuable gifts, they also cooperated with it against its rivals and enemies. The Mamluk sultans treated these visiting kings and their embassies with great respect, bestowing robes of honor upon them and responding to their demands. The Mamluk Sultanate, with this spirit, was able to deservedly impose its leadership on these lands. The Chancellery has preserved for us some letters that were exchanged between some Mamluk sultans and a group of Nubian kings, and these letters reflect a spirit of affection and friendship, as evidenced by the titles mentioned in them, including the titles of the Lord of Dongola, the Noble Deputy, the Esteemed, the Valiant Lion.

When Muslim kings ascended the throne of Nubia, some of their titles, as mentioned in the letters, indicated an Islamic character, such as "The Ornament of Princes and Warriors." It appears that Dongola was considered among the lesser kings, and perhaps the economic and social position of the country had an impact on this.

This is about the embassy of the campaign sent by Amr ibn al-As, led by Uqba ibn Nafi al-Fihri in 21 AH / 641 AD, then the signing of the treaty of al-Buqṭ between Sa'd ibn Abi Sarj in 31 AH / 651 AD, and passing through the Umayyad, Tulunid, Ikhshidid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk governors until the appointment of the first Muslim king or sultan over that region, who was called Sayf Allah Abd Allah Barshambu in 717 AH / 1317 AD. From this, it becomes clear the role that the rulers of Egypt played throughout its various eras in spreading Islam, Arabism, and Islamic culture south of Egypt and in what is known as Al-Nuba or the Kingdom of Makuria, and how the Arab tribes that took their way to expand south helped greatly in changing the face of political, social, cultural, and religious life in that region until it was imbued with an Islamic character in the seventh Hijri century, the fourteenth AD. Thus, it becomes clear to us that Islam and Arabism are deeply rooted in that part of Sudan.

(M 7 - Islam and Arabism in Sudan)