The First Raid on Cyprus

غزوة قبرس الأولى

c. 648 CE · 28 AH

In al-Baladhuri from al-Waqidi and others: Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan led the first sea raid on Cyprus — the Muslims had never before sailed the Byzantine sea; he had asked Umar's leave to raid by sea and was refused, and when Uthman took office he wrote asking leave for Cyprus, noting its nearness and ease; Uthman wrote back 'you witnessed what Umar replied when you consulted him about the sea', and when year 27 opened Mu'awiya again made light of the crossing, so Uthman wrote 'if you sail, take your wife with you — else do not'; he sailed from Acre with many vessels, carrying his wife Fakhita bint Qaraza the Qurashite, and Ubada ibn al-Samit (may God be pleased with him) carried his wife Umm Haram bint Milhan (may God be pleased with her) the Ansari — in year 28; when they reached its shore — an island some eighty farsakhs square, it is said — its archon sent seeking terms, its people consenting, and he compounded with them for seven thousand two hundred dinars paid yearly, while the Byzantines compounded with them for the like — so they pay two tributes — stipulating that the Muslims not bar them paying the Byzantines, and the Muslims stipulating that they not be made to fight those who came from beyond them and that they warn the Muslims of Byzantine movements; so when the Muslims sailed they did not trouble them, and Cyprus's people neither aided them nor fought them; on this raid went Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may God be pleased with him), Abu al-Darda', Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may God be pleased with him), Ubada ibn al-Samit, Fadala ibn Ubayd (may God be pleased with him) al-Ansari, Umayr ibn Sa'd al-Ansari, Wathila ibn al-Asqa', Abdullah ibn Bishr al-Mazini, Shaddad ibn Aws (may God be pleased with him) ibn Thabit — nephew of Hassan ibn Thabit (may God be pleased with him) — al-Miqdad, Ka'b al-Ahbar and Jubayr ibn Nufayr al-Hadrami; Umm Haram left the ship and was brought a mount which stumbled and killed her — her grave in Cyprus is called the grave of the righteous woman; Mu'awiya afterwards compounded with them a lasting peace at seven thousand dinars, upon good counsel to the Muslims and warning them of their Byzantine enemy.

Overview

Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan raided Cyprus by sea. It was the first naval raid of the Muslims into the Roman sea, according to al-Baladhuri from al-Waqidi. Its date is 28 AH. ¹

Permission

Mu'awiya asked Umar's permission to raid by sea, and he did not give it. When Uthman became caliph, Mu'awiya wrote to him with the same request, and he gave permission on the condition: "If you ride the sea with your wife, then ride it with my permission, and if not, then not." ²

The raid

He set out from Acre with many ships, and his wife Fakhita bint Qaraza. Ubada ibn al-Samit took with him his wife Umm Haram bint Milhan. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari and Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and others raided with them. ²

The treaty

The lord of the island sent asking for peace, and Mu'awiya made peace with them for seven thousand two hundred dinars every year. The Muslims stipulated that its people should not fight on their behalf against whoever wanted them, and should warn the Muslims of the movement of their enemies, the Romans. ¹

Umm Haram's mule stumbled and died, and her grave in Cyprus is called the grave of the righteous woman. Then Mu'awiya made a permanent peace with them for seven thousand dinars. ¹

Al-Suyuti's account

In al-Suyuti, Umar wrote to Amr ibn al-As (may God be pleased with him) asking him to describe the sea and its riders. He answered with something that frightened him, and Umar wrote to Mu'awiya that he should never carry a Muslim on it. ²

The First Raid on Cyprus

At a glance

In time

Overview

Permission

The raid

The treaty

Al-Suyuti's account

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

the conquest of Ascalon (24 AH)