Amr ibn al-As

The Road to Islam

Amr ibn al-As was a Qurayshi of Banu Sahm, famed for shrewdness, who had once led the Quraysh’s embassy to the Negus of Abyssinia against the Muslims. There the Negus’s words turned his heart, and he resolved to believe; he set out for Madinah and met Khalid ibn al-Walid on the same road, and both embraced Islam shortly before the conquest of Makkah — Amr asking that his past be forgiven. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 177–178 — Kandhlawi — Amr's path to Islam through the Negus; he meets Khalid on the road to Madinah and accepts Islam.

Commander and Conqueror of Egypt

The Prophet ﷺ recognised his gifts, appointing him to command the expedition of Dhat al-Salasil over a force that included senior Companions. Under Umar, Amr led the conquest of Egypt, defeating the Byzantine forces and taking Alexandria, and he settled there, where he died. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 217, 362 — Najeebabadi — the Prophet appoints Amr commander at Dhat al-Salasil; Amr conquers Egypt under Umar.