Expansion of The Islamic Empire During Hazrat Umars Caliphate

The Iraq Campaigns The Syrian Campaigns The Conquest of Persia The Conquest of Egypt

EXPANSION OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE DURING HAZRAT UMARS CALIPHATE

The Iraq Campaigns

THE FALL OF DAMASCUS THE BATTLE OF FIHL THE BATTLE OF YARMOOK

THE BATTLE OF MARWA THE BATTLE OF BUWAYB

THE BATTLE OF AL-QADISSIYA

The Syrian Campaigns

The Conquest of Persia

The Conquest of Egypt THE FALL OF ALEXANDRIA

THE BATTLE OF NIHAWAND

The Conquest of Egypt

The Iraq Campaigns:

THE BATTLE OF MARWA (The Bridge): The Persian forces, 4000, gathered on the eastern bank of River Euphrates. The Muslims built a bridge of boats across the river and crossed to the other side to fight. The Persians charged with their elephant cavalry and the Muslims were overrun. Also, the bridge collapsed and they got trapped. The Muslim commander got martyred along with many others, but Hazrat Muthanna Shaybani saved the day by holding the bridge.

THE BATTLE OF BUWAYB:

Hazrat Umar mobilized a new force. The battle took place on the western bank of River Euphrates. The commander of the Persian army was killed which made his troops demoralized and scattered. They tried to retreat but the Muslims blocked access to the bridge and defeated them.

The Persians put together an army of 60,000 to avenge their defeat. Hazrat Umar could mobilize an army of 30,000. They camped at al-Qadissiya, a small town near Koofa. The Muslim commander sent a delegation to the Persian emperor inviting them to accept Islam or else to pay jizya or to settle the matter through war. The arrogant emperor spoke contemptuously of the Arabs. The Persian troops crossed the river to attack the army. The fight continued for three days at the end of which the Persian commander was killed and his army retreated. The Muslims chased them and captured Madaain, the capital of the Persian emperor, who, along with his family and nobles, had fled.

THE BATTLE OF AL-QADISSIYA:

EXPANSION OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE DURING HAZRAT UMARS CALIPHATE

The Syrian Campaigns:

Hazrat Khaalid bin Waleed organized the seige and capture of Damascus, a city known for its wealth and culture.
THE FALL OF DAMASCUS:

THE BATTLE OF FIHL: Roman army gathered on the western side of Lake Tiberias. Hazrat Khaalid bin Waleed sent his emissary inviting them to accept Islam or else to pay jizya or to settle the matter through war. They chose the last option and attacked the Muslims in small groups. Hazrat Khaalid gradually retreated, drawing the enemy forced further in, and then surrounded them and launched a furious attack. The Romans suffered heavy casualties and those who survived, scattered and fled. Hence, Jordan was conquered.

The Syrian Campaigns:

THE BATTLE OF YARMOOK:

The Byzantine emperor, Heraclius, determined to recover Palestine for Christian rule, gathered an army. Hazrat Khaalid bin Waleed grouped his forces along River Yarmook. The Romans sought to drive out the Muslims from Syria through negotiations and sent their representatives to either convince or buy over the Muslim commander. Hazrat Khaalid refused and invited them to Islam. However, meeting with refusal, he returned to prepare his army for the inevitable conflict.

In the battle, both sides invoked their faith: the Christians carried the emblems and banners of their faith while the Muslims recited verses from the Holy Quran to bolster their courage. Muslim women, too, played a dynamic and heroic role by accompanying the army. Their camps were behind the battle lines. The war strategies of the Muslim commanders paid off successfully and the Romans suffered heavy losses and defeat. Hazrat Umar fell into a prayer of gratitude when he received the news of success. However, the Muslims, too, had to bear the loss of 3,000 lives.

EXPANSION OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE DURING HAZRAT UMARS CALIPHATE

The victories in Iraq opened the way for expeditions intoPersia, and the Syrian victories led to expansion towards Egypt.

The Conquest of Persia:

The Persian emperor prepared for battle by mobilizing troops. When the news reached Madinah, Hazrat Umar consulted his advisors and finally took Hazrat Ali s advice on the strategy to be followed. When the Muslim forces reached Nihawand, they were outnumbered 3 to 1 by the Persians who had also blocked the way to their camps by strewing Thornwood and spikes. The Muslims used the tactic of Hazrat Khaalid bin Waleed at Fihl, by pretending to withdraw and drawing the enemy into their midst, and then attacking ferociously. The retreating Persians were blocked by the same obstacles they had strewn, and were badly defeated.
THE BATTLE OF NIHAWAND:

The Conquest of Egypt:

Hazrat Amr bin al-Aas convinced Hazrat Umar of the strategic importance of Egypt. Hazrat Umar put him in charge of 4,000 men. Hazrat Amr approached the massive and well-defended fort at the base of Nile delta but could make no headway. He requested reinforcements which arrived from Madinah. He handed over the operations to one of the commanders of the reinforcements, Hazrat Zubair , who captured the fort after a seven-month long siege. This fort later became the garrison town of Fustaat.

THE FALL OF ALEXANDRIA: The governer of Fustaat who had surrendered to Hazrat Amr made his way to Alexandria which was a well-established port city. It was a well-defended city, not easy to conquer, and despite attackes and a long siege, the Muslims had little success. Hazrat Umar wrote a strongly-worded letter to Hazrat Amr expressing his displeasure at the pace of events. Hazrat Amr read out the Caliphs letter to his troops and exhorted them to action, who stormed and captured Alexandria.