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The French Campaign on Egypt and the Proclamation of Jihad

الحملة الفرنسية على مصر وإعلان الجهاد

1798 CE · 1213 AH

The French campaign in Egypt, 1798 — Selim III proclaimed jihad at once; al-Jabarti records the Hijaz rising, six hundred volunteers sailing to al-Qusayr under Muhammad al-Kilani resolved on martyrdom or victory, while Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar's watchfulness at Acre checked Napoleon himself 1.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Modern Era
Region
Egypt & Nile · Levant & Iraq
Review
Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it

In time

179018001810
The Colonial Era · The Gunpowder Empires

Overview

The French attack on Egypt was in 1213 AH (1798 CE), according to Ali al-Salabi, the first attack on an Arab province of the Ottoman state in modern history. Sultan Selim III immediately declared jihad, and Muslims in the Hijaz, Syria and North Africa responded. 2

The call to jihad in the Hijaz

Al-Salabi quotes al-Jabarti, in the events of Sha'ban 1213 AH, that the people of the Hijaz were alarmed when news of the French reached them. Shaykh Muhammad al-Kilani preached to the people and called them to jihad, and about six hundred fighters gathered and took ship to al-Qusayr. 2

From them, with the Muslims of Upper Egypt, the Hawara Arabs, the people of Nubia and the forces of Murad Bey, a front was formed against the French. 2

After Cairo

The book says that Napoleon went on occupying the cities of Egypt, Gaza, Ramla and Jaffa, and tried to occupy Acre, but its people under Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar stood in the way. 2

Connections

Explore the connections

Had participant
سليم الثالث

People and things also explored

Abd al-Hamid I· سليم الثالث

Sources

  1. al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 329-330
  2. al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p.329-330
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The French Campaign on Egypt and the Proclamation of Jihad”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/french-campaign-egypt-1213/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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