Uqba ibn Amir | |
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Governor of Egypt | |
In office 665–667 | |
Monarch | Mu'awiya I |
Preceded by | Utba ibn Abi Sufyan |
Succeeded by | Maslama ibn Mukhallad |
Personal details | |
Died | 677/678 Fustat |
Parent |
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Uqba ibn Amir al-Juhani (Arabic: عقبة بن عامر الجهني, romanized: ʿUqba ibn ʿĀmir al-Juhanī; died 677/78) was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the Umayyad governor of Egypt in 665–667 and died in the province.
Uqba ibn Amir hailed from the Juhayna tribe, a branch of the Quda'a confederation resident across Syria and northwestern Arabia.[1][2] He became a well-known companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and had been the latter's muleteer.[3][4] Uqba was also a poet and became known for his writing skills.[3] He developed a reputation as an early reader of the Quran and possessed a version of the Muslim holy book that was different than the version descended from Caliph Uthman (r. 644–656).[1][3] His recension of the Quran fell into oblivion after the Umayyad governor of Egypt, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, had another codex produced in accordance with the Uthmanid canon.[5] Uqba is credited with the transmission of several hadith (traditions of Muhammad).[3]
During the First Fitna, he was an active supporter of his friend Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan against Caliph Ali (r. 656–661).[3] Mu'awiya became caliph in 661 and appointed Uqba the governor of Egypt,[1] replacing the caliph's deceased brother, Utba ibn Abi Sufyan, in 664.[4] According to the 9th-century historian al-Tabari, in 668/69, Uqba led the Arab troops of Egypt alongside the troops of Medina in a naval raid against Byzantine territory.[6] He was replaced as governor by Maslama ibn Mukhallad al-Ansari in 669.[4] He died in Egypt in 677/78.[1] An honorary tomb was built on his grave in the cemetery of Qarafa al-Kubra near Fustat. During the Mamluk period in the 14th century, it was one of several ziyarat (Muslim pilgrimage sites) visited by Egyptian Muslims.[7]