Lineage of Amr ibn al-As
Amr ibn al-As, a member of the Qurayshi tribe from the Banu Sahm clan, was the companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was the son of Al-As ibn Wa'il and belonged to the Hashim clan, which descends from Sa'id ibn Sahm ibn Amr ibn Hasays ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib. He was commonly known as Abu Abdullah, although some say his kunya was Abu Muhammad.
Physical Description of Amr ibn al-As
Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) was described as having a short stature and prominent eyes. His eyes were intensely dark, with a striking whiteness surrounding the iris. The space between his eyebrows was wide, and it is said that he used to dye his hair black.
Islam of Amr ibn al-As
The Islam of Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) was delayed compared to other companions - may Allah be pleased with them - because, like many leaders of Quraysh, he held onto the religion of his forefathers despite believing in the truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) message.
Persisting in their obstinacy against the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a common stance adopted by the elite of Quraysh, among whom was Amr ibn al-As. The will of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) necessitated the delay in his acceptance of Islam for a wisdom known only to Allah (glorified and exalted be He).
The primary motive behind Amr ibn al-As's acceptance of Islam was his contemplation and preoccupation with it. He thought, pondered, and reflected extensively before declaring his Islam. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The people have embraced Islam, and Amr ibn al-As has believed". Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was also among those who influenced his conversion to Islam.
In the month of Safar, in the eighth year of Hijra, Amr ibn al-As declared his Islam after the Battle of the Trench. He gathered with the leaders of Quraysh in Mecca and advised them to seek refuge with the Negus, the king of Abyssinia, to learn about the situation and spread of Islam.
Amr ibn al-As went to the Negus bearing gifts. Amr ibn Umayyah had also arrived there and was sent by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Amr ibn al-As requested the Negus to hand over Amr ibn Umayyah to him. Angered by Amr ibn al-As's request, the Negus struck him, and thus, he returned to Medina.
On his way, he met Uthman ibn Talha and Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with them both), and a dialogue about Islam ensued. The three of them proceeded to Medina and declared their Islam in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Wives of Amr ibn al-As
Who is the wife of Amr ibn al-As, and who is the sister of Uthman ibn Affan? Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) married Bureiha bint Manbah ibn al-Hajjaj ibn Amir ibn Hudhayfah ibn Sahm, and Khawlah bint Hamzah ibn al-Salil ibn Qays ibn Tayyi', and he also married Umm Kulthum bint Aqabah ibn Abi Mu'ayt after her husband passed away. She lived with him for a month and then passed away. She was the step-sister of Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him).
Children of Amr ibn al-As
What is the kunya of Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As? Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) had two sons:
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, from his wife Bureiha bint Manbah. His kunya was Abu Abdurrahman. He was a devout worshiper, close to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He possessed many virtues and merits and learned Islamic knowledge directly from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He narrated around 700 hadiths from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Muhammad ibn Amr ibn al-As, from his wife Khawlah bint Hamzah. He accompanied the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for some time. He participated in the Battle of Siffin and fought until he passed away at a young age.
The Cunning of Amr ibn al-As
Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) was renowned for his cunning and was given the title of "the shrewd of the Arabs" due to his sound judgment and numerous stratagems. He was esteemed among his people for his keen insight and cleverness. Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) used to exemplify him for his excellent judgment and eloquence.
Muhammad ibn Salam mentioned, "Whenever Omar ibn al-Khattab saw someone eloquently weaving words, he would say, "The Creator of this person and the Creator of Amr ibn al-As are one". This was because he was articulate and adept at advising. Qubaysah ibn Jabir said, "I accompanied Amr ibn al-As, and I have never seen a man more eloquent in speech, more generous in hospitality, and more transparent in demeanor".
His wisdom and intelligence played a vital role in quelling the bloodshed of Muslims during the Battle of Siffin. As casualties mounted and people perished, and the conflict intensified, each side began calling for an end to the fighting.
Amr ibn al-As suggested the idea of arbitration and guided them to refer back to the Quran to settle their disputes. They ceased bloodshed, and both sides agreed to this proposal, bringing an end to the war.
The Courage of Amr ibn al-As
Amr ibn al-As was courageous and a skilled leader, a trait recognized by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he summoned him to Medina and asked him to lead the Muslim army. He assigned him a white flag for this purpose, and the first expedition led by Amr ibn al-As was the Expedition of Dhat al-Salasil.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) chose him to lead the Muslims in this expedition, although the Muslim army included many notable companions such as Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), Suhaib al-Rumi, Amer ibn Abi Rabia, Saad ibn Ubadah, Ubada ibn Bashir, and many others.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) appointed him to lead this battle, it had been only about four months since his acceptance of Islam. However, his good character in Islam, his courage, and his competence in leadership were what led the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to entrust him with this responsibility. He was also known for his political and military abilities, which he proved after his acceptance of Islam in the conquests of the Muslims.
The Governance of Amr ibn al-As over Egypt
The first appointment of Amr ibn al-As as governor of Egypt occurred when he entered it for the first time, leading the conquest. He was appointed by Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), and Amr ibn al-As proved to be a trustworthy and just governor.
During his governorship, Amr ibn al-As accomplished numerous things. He established security in the region and granted religious freedom to the Copts in Egypt, a freedom they had not experienced before. He succeeded in winning the hearts of the Egyptians, especially after he facilitated the return of Benjamin the Patriarch from exile to his church in Alexandria.
Additionally, Amr ibn al-As implemented various administrative and financial reforms in Egypt. He relied on local labor and encouraged reforms to come from the Egyptians themselves. He founded the city of Fustat and the mosque named after him, which was the first mosque built on the African continent.
Furthermore, he initiated the construction of a maritime canal to facilitate trade between Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Amr ibn al-As served as the governor of Egypt twice, first during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab and the second time in the year eighty-three after Hijra.
The Death of Amr ibn al-As
When the time of death approached, Amr ibn al-As burst into tears. His son asked him about the reason for his weeping, to which he replied that he cried out of fear of what comes after death. His son then reminded him of his companionship with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the conquests he participated in.
Amr ibn al-As passed away on the night of Eid al-Fitr in the year forty-three after Hijra. Some sources state that he passed away in the year fifty-one after Hijra. He died in Egypt, and his son Abdullah led the funeral prayer for him before the Eid prayer. Amr ibn al-As had appointed his son to lead the prayer.
