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In the middle of the 7th century, the early Muslim community found itself at the edge of a new world.

Behind them lay Arabia, newly united under Islam.

Ahead of them stretched the vast continent of Africa and at its fore the near mythical land of Egypt.

Home of the Nile, the cradle of kingdoms and pyramids, the land where prophets had walked. At first, just a handful of Muslim writers

set to cross the Sinai, but soon this would become one of the most consequential expansions

in Islamic history, a movement that would shift the

religious, linguistic, and cultural identity of the entire continent of Africa until this day.

When we look at the Muslim conquest of North Africa, it can be divided into two parts.

The first was the conquest under the Sahabi, Amr ibn al-Az,

who, after Jerusalem was conquered,

was eager to continue on to North Africa.

But at the time, the Khalifa,

Amr Abra bin Qatara was hesitant.

Nevertheless, Amar,

Radi al-a-N pushed on.

He first targeted the city of Fustat, which is on the outskirts of modern-day Cairo in the year 20 Hidra, 641 CE.

This was the location of a key Roman fortress which Amr laid siege to.

After six months with no significant process,

Omar, Radi-a-And sent around 10,000 troops as reinforcements under the leadership of

the great companion, the cousin of the Prophet Sallu'llah alexandah, Zubaird ibn Al-Awam.

Zubairar, then led an attack on the fortress and succeeded in taking it.

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