Amr's Dismissal and Ibn Abi Sarh's Sole Charge of Egypt

عزل عمرو بن العاص وتولية ابن أبي سرح

25 AH

In al-Baladhuri: when Amr set his mawla Wardan over Alexandria and returned to al-Fustat, his dismissal came shortly after — Uthman appointing Abdallah ibn Sa'd, his milk-brother, in year 25; or, some say, Abdallah already held Egypt's kharaj and a quarrel ran between him and Amr, so on his complaint Uthman dismissed Amr, joined both offices to Abdallah, and wrote telling him Alexandria had been opened once by force and had twice revolted — ordering a ribat that never leaves it, provisions dealt out to them, and rotation every six months; in a third account, when the Romans descended on Alexandria Egypt's people begged Uthman to keep Amr until the fighting ended, for his war-knowledge and dread in the enemy's souls — he did till they were routed — then Uthman wished to put Amr over the war and Abdallah over the kharaj, which Amr refused saying 'I am like one holding the cow's horns while the amir milks her', so Uthman gave Ibn Sa'd Egypt. And the Abyssinians of al-Bayma kept fighting seven years after Egypt's conquest, uncatchable, never stirring from the waters amid the thickets.

Overview

al-Baladhuri reports in "Futuh al-Buldan" that Amr ibn al-As appointed his client Wardan over Alexandria and returned to al-Fustat. Dismissal came to him soon after. Uthman then appointed Abd Allah ibn Sa'd in his place, in 25 AH; Abd Allah was his foster brother. ¹

Accounts of the cause

The first account: Abd Allah had previously been in charge of the kharaj of Egypt. A quarrel took place between him and Amr, and he wrote complaining of him. Uthman dismissed Amr, combined the two posts under Abd Allah, and ordered him to stay in Alexandria as a garrison, because it had been conquered by force and had revolted twice. ¹

The third account: the people of Egypt asked Uthman to keep Amr in office until he had finished fighting the Byzantines who had landed at Alexandria, because of his knowledge of war. When Amr defeated them, Uthman wanted to make him commander of the war and Abd Allah in charge of the kharaj. Amr refused and said: "I am like one holding the two horns of a cow while the amir milks her." So Uthman appointed Ibn Sa'd over Egypt. ¹

Abyssinia

al-Baladhuri adds that the Habasha of al-Bayma, that is the Abyssinians, kept fighting for seven years after the conquest of Egypt. ¹

Note

The report rests on a single source. It needs an additional source.

The Milch-Camel Exchange: Amr's and Ibn Abi Sarh's Kharaj

In al-Baladhuri on Yazid ibn Abi Habib's report: Amr ibn al-As gathered Egypt's kharaj and jizya at two thousand thousand, while Abdallah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Sarh gathered it at four thousand thousand — whereupon Uthman said to Amr 'the milch-camels of Egypt have milked fuller since you', and Amr answered 'that is because you have starved their calves'. And Umar ibn al-Khattab would record his governors' wealth when appointing them, then share with them whatever grew beyond it, sometimes taking it from them outright — so he wrote to Amr ibn al-As that goods, slaves, vessels and beasts had flourished for him beyond what he held when given Egypt.

Amr's Dismissal and Ibn Abi Sarh's Sole Charge of Egypt

At a glance

Overview

Accounts of the cause

Abyssinia

Note

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

The Milch-Camel Exchange: Amr's and Ibn Abi Sarh's Kharaj