He also dispatched Suwar ibn al-Muthanna al-‘Abdi against Sabur; Suwar fell in the engagement and was counted a martyr. ʿUthman ibn Abi al-ʿAs then raided the seaboard and coastal settlements, and he sent al-Jarud ibn al-Muʿalla, but al-Jarud too was killed.

Al-Mufaddal ibn Fadala relates—through ‘Iyash ibn ‘Abbas al-Qatabani and others—that ʿAmr (ibn al-ʿAs) marched from Palestine to Egypt with the army without first seeking ʿUmar’s leave and succeeded in conquering it. ʿUmar reproached him for failing to inform him, so ʿAmr wrote asking permission to confront the people of Alexandria. In the year 21 AH ʿAmr advanced, leaving Kharija ibn Hudhafa al-ʿAdawi in charge of the camp at al-Fustat. He met the Copts, defeated them after a hard fight, met them again at al-Karyun in another fierce battle, and then reached Alexandria. There al-Muqawqis sent to request a treaty and truce, but ʿAmr refused. He pressed the assault until he entered the city by force of arms, took the booty left by the Byzantines, and stationed a garrison there under ʿAbd Allah ibn Hudhafa al-Sahmi. He then sent news of the conquest to ʿUmar.

When the report reached Constantine son of Heraclius, he dispatched a eunuch named Manwil with three hundred ships. They entered Alexandria, killed the Muslims they found—only those who managed to flee survived—and the townspeople broke their pact. ʿAmr therefore returned with fifteen thousand men, set up mangonels against the city, and fought resolutely until he recaptured it by storm and demolished its walls. He was even seen tearing them down with his own hands. This was narrated by Hammad ibn Salama, from Abu ʿImran, from ʿAlqama.

Nihawand:

Al-Nahhas ibn Qahm reported—through al-Qasim ibn ʿAwf al-Shaybani, from al-Saʾib ibn al-Aqraʿ—that an army advanced against the Muslims the like of which had never been seen; it marched out against them