CHAPTER I
The Conquest of Egypt and Al-Maghrib [Mauritania]
ʿAmr moves against Egypt. After the battle of al-Yarmûk, ʿAmr ibn-al-ʿÂṣi laid siege to Caesarea [Ḳaisârîyah]. When Yazîd ibn-abi-Sufyân assumed power, ʿAmr left his son in his place at Caesarea and led, all of his own accord, an army of 3,500 to Egypt. ʿUmar was angry because of it and wrote to him, rebuking and reprimanding him for following his own opinion, without consulting ʿUmar, and ordering him to return home in case the message was received before his arrival in Egypt. ʿAmr, however, received the message in al-ʿArîsh.[1] It is asserted by others that ʿUmar wrote to ʿAmr ibn-al-ʿÂṣi, ordering him to proceed to Egypt. ʿAmr received the message as he was besieging Caesarea. The one who delivered the message was Sharîk ibn-ʿAbdah, to whom ʿAmr gave 1,000 dînârs, which Sharîk refused to accept. ʿAmr asked him to conceal the matter and not disclose it to ʿUmar.
Al-Fusṭâṭ. The advance of ʿAmr against Egypt took place in the year 19. He first stopped at al-ʿArîsh and then proceeded to al-Faramâʾ,[2] in which were troops ready for the fight. ʿAmr fought and defeated them, taking possession of their camp. Thence he advanced straight on to al-
