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Uqba ibn Amir

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Uqba ibn Amir
Governor of Egypt
In office
665–667
MonarchMu'awiya I
Preceded byUtba ibn Abi Sufyan
Succeeded byMaslama ibn Mukhallad
Personal details
Died677/678
Fustat
Parent
  • Amir al-Juhani (father)

Uqba ibn Amir al-Juhani (Arabic: عقبة بن عامر الجهني‎, romanizedʿUqba 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.

Life

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Landau-Tasseron 1998, p. 293, note 1329.
  2. ^ Madelung 1992, pp. 182, 237.
  3. ^ a b c d e Landau-Tasseron 1998, p. 32, note 144.
  4. ^ a b c Kennedy 1998, p. 69.
  5. ^ Tillier 2022.
  6. ^ Morony 1987, p. 93.
  7. ^ Taylor 1999, pp. 1, 66.

Bibliography

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Preceded by Governor of Egypt
664–669
Succeeded by