Syedna Osman bin Affan, “May Allah be pleased with him” (Part 5)
The annexation of new lands to the territory of Islam
1- The great war in Africa, which is known in the history of Islam as “Harb al-Abadilla”. For the purpose of conquering Africa, Hazrat Osman entrusted the governorship of Egypt to Hazrat Abdullah bin Saad and ordered him to spread Islam in the lands of the African continent, and whatever amount of booty was obtained 4% would be his. At that time, the ruler of Africa named Jarjir was appointed by the Roman emperor, who ruled from Tripoli to Tangier, and he was very arrogant and haughty. He had prepared one hundred and twenty thousand horsemen for the Muslim war. On the other hand, Hazrat Osman (RA) also organized and sent a large army including the senior Companions such as: Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas and Abdullah bin Umar (RA). Abdullah bin Saad, (may Allah be pleased with him), also gathered a large army from Egypt, and all these Islamic forces entered Africa at the same time, and the battle of the campaign began with intensity.
This war is considered to be the biggest Muslim battle after the conquest of Qadisiya and Yarmouk, because it continued for forty days. The two armies fought every day from morning to noon, and after that both armies rested in tents, tired and helpless. After a few days, Hazrat Osman (RA) sent a fresh army under the command of Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair (RA) to help them and emphasized that you should reach Africa as soon as possible and help your brothers.
When the new army arrived in Africa, all the Muslims raised the voice of Allahu Akbar out of joy. At the same time, Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair, (may Allah be pleased with him), felt that Abdullah bin Saad, (may Allah be pleased with him), the commander of the Islamic Army, was in some trouble. After investigation, it was found that the reason was the distribution of a notice issued by “Jarjir” and it said: Whoever brings Sir Abdullah bin Saad, (may Allah be pleased with him), will receive a cash reward of 100,000 Ashrafis and the daughter of “Jarjir” will be given to him.
On the other hand, Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair, (may Allah be pleased with him), announced: Whoever brings the head of “Jarjir” will be given a reward of 100,000 Ashrafis and Jarjir’s daughter will also be given to him. Then he divided the entire army into two factions, ordered one group to rest in their tents, and took the other group with him and entered the battlefield and continued fighting with the infidels until noon, and in the afternoon Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered the other part of army which was in rest to come for battle ,as they came to the field and did not let the army of disbelief rest in their tents.
Following this strategy, a war broke out that broke the power and strength of the infidels, and Jarjir was killed by Abdullah bin Zubair, his army was defeated, and countless people from the infidel army were killed, and a lot of booty was taken. It came that after Khums (the fifth section) each of the cavalry of Islam was given 3000 ashrafis and each infantryman was given 1000 ashrafis, and according to the announcement, 100000 ashrafis and the daughter of Jarjir was given to Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair, (may Allah be pleased with him).
And this war is called “Harb al-Al-Abadilla” because the commander of the army was Abdullah bin Saad, (may Allah be pleased with him), and the head of the right wing of the army was Abdullah bin Omar, (may Allah be pleased with him), and the officer of the left wing of the army was Abdullah bin Zubair, (may Allah be pleased with him), and the commander of the attack line and the middle front was Abdullah bin Abbas, (may Allah be pleased with him). After the conquest of Africa, the Islamic army went to Morocco and there was a big war, finally, Tripoli, Andalusia and the entire West were captured by the Muslims, and the greatness of the Islamic religion began to shine in the West.
2- Naval wars, which Muslims were not aware of until then and had not occurred during the reign of the two previous caliphs, were a completely new thing that took place for the first time during the caliphate of Hazrat Osman. Although Hazrat Farooq Azam had crushed the Roman emperor power and dignity; But still some of it remained and ruled the coastal areas. First of all, the thought of preparing a naval war appeared in the mind of Hazrat Mu’awiya, (may Allah be pleased with him), and he proposed a naval war to Hazrat Osman, may Allah be pleased with him. Hazrat Osman allowed Hazrat Mu’awiyah to prepare for a sea battle, so a large army headed by the navy under his command moved towards the island of Cyprus.
Muslims and the forces of disbelief fought approximately fifty times. Finally, the Islamic army won, and the entire island of Cyprus was captured by the Muslims, and the name and emblem of the Roman Caesar was erased and destroyed from the universe page.
The lifeless body of Christianity was destroyed in the important countries of Europe and Africa, and the pure spirit of Islam breathed in those dead lands. These naval wars were the same wars that the Messenger of Allah, (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), had previously prophesied about and declared his consent to; As narrated in Sahih Bukhari; The Messenger of Allah, (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him), was resting one day at noon in the house of Umm Haram, and he woke up with a smile on his face,Umm Haram asked the reason for his smile, and he said: “Now I saw some of my people riding on ships in the sea with Dignity and shock move; As if they were kings and sat on the throne, and paradise became obligatory for them.
Umm Haram said, O Messenger of Allah, pray for me to be one of them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed and said: You will be one of them, as Umm Haram joined the army of Islam with her husband and while returning she fell from her horse and was martyred under the hoofs of horses and was finally buried in the island of Cyprus.
These Naval wars are considered to be one of the best virtues of Hazrat Osman, especially Hazrat Amir Muawiyah, due to the prophecies and tidings given by the Prophet, (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Some of the unconquered areas of Iran, such as Khorasan, Joyn, Firozabad, Shiraz, Tus, Neishabur, Herat, Balkh, etc., were conquered during the Caliphate of Hazrat Osman. Caesar of Rome was killed during his caliphate, and Yazdgerd, which was mentioned before, went to hell during his blessed reign.
