to Umar al-Farouq and his division among the imams. Ali ibn Abi Talib received a piece of it, which he sold for twenty thousand dirhams. Saad remained in al-Madain and sent an army to Jalula. The Persians had gathered there, and the imam was victorious, killing an immeasurable number of Persians. This event is known as the Battle of Jalula. Yazdegerd was in Hawa, so he marched away from it, and the imams went to it and took control of it.

The Conquest of Egypt during the Caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab

18 AH - May Allah be pleased with him.

Abd al-Hakam narrated to us, and Uthman ibn Salih and others, that it was the year 18 AH when Amr ibn al-Aas came to the Caliphate. Umar stood up to him and spoke to him privately, saying: "O Commander of the Faithful, permit me to march to Egypt and urge him towards it." Marwan ibn al-Aas was constantly encouraging the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab to conquer Egypt, because he had been there before embracing Islam and had seen there such greatness and splendor that made him very eager to conquer it. He used to say to him: "If you conquer it, it will be a strength for the Muslims and a support for them. It is the most abundant land in wealth and the most suitable for fighting and war."

The Imam Umar was afraid of that, especially after he had concluded a treaty with Heraclius. However, after the treaty was broken, as previously mentioned, he saw fit to grant his request. So he sent him to march with four thousand strong men and said to him: "March, I will seek guidance from Allah regarding your march, and my letter will reach you soon. If Allah Almighty wills, if my letter reaches you, I will order you to turn back from Egypt before you enter it or any part of its land, so turn back. If you enter it before my letter reaches you, then proceed with your mission and seek help from Allah and ask for His support." This was a few days after the conquest of Jerusalem.

So Amr ibn al-Aas and those with him marched towards Egypt, almost not believing that he had been permitted to do so. When he reached Rafah, a village now called "Rafa", about ten hours away from "Al-Arish", a messenger from Umar reached him and handed him a letter. It was feared that this letter would be detrimental, ordering him to turn back from Egypt, which he had not yet entered. He delayed until he entered its land. At that time, he was a short distance from it. He ordered a swift march until evening. He asked about Ibn Hunn, and he was told that he was in Al-Arish. He said that he had entered the land of Egypt, so he ordered to spend the night there. At dawn, the people rose for prayer, and after completing it, Amr ibn al-Aas stood with the Caliph's letter in his hand. He opened it with great respect and read it aloud to the public, saying: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. To Amr ibn al-Aas. After this, if my letter reaches you..."