The founding of Basra

بناء البصرة

14 AH

In 14 Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) sent Utba ibn Ghazwan (may God be pleased with him) to Basra, on the account of al-Mada'ini; Sayf reports that it was established as a garrison town in Rabi' 16 ¹. Al-Tabari presents the section 'The Account of the Founding of Basra' on pages 590 to 597 ². According to al-Baladhuri, Basra had been established as a garrison town between the day of al-Nukhayla and the day of al-Qadisiyya, by Utba ibn Ghazwan, who then sought leave for the pilgrimage and left al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba as his deputy. Umar wrote to al-Mughira confirming his commission, but before long he was accused of the same offence. Umar then put Abu Musa in charge of Basra and sent al-Mughira to Medina, later returning him, with those who had testified against him, to Basra. When he was present at al-Qadisiyya, Umar wrote to Abu Musa ordering him to reinforce Sa'd; Abu Musa sent al-Mughira with eight hundred men, or, it is said, four hundred, and al-Mughira took part and then went to Medina. It was also said that Utba ibn Ghazwan was the one who sent al-Mughira as reinforcement, that al-Mughira took up Basra only after his return from al-Qadisiyya, and that Umar did not expel him from Medina over the charge when he summoned him there.