his palfrey. I caught up with him, ran him through with my spear, then finished him off(1) with my sword. I cut off his head, hoisted it on the point of the spear, and proclaimed the takbīr. When the Berbers witnessed that, they scattered and fled like startled sand-grouse. The Muslims gave pursuit, killing and capturing, and they gained abundant spoils, immense wealth, and a great number of captives. All this took place at a locality called Sbeitla(2), two days’ march from al-Qayrawān. It was the first occasion on which the name of ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr—may Allah be pleased with him, with his father, and with all their Companions—became widely celebrated.
Al-Wāqidī says: In this same year Istakhr was taken a second time at the hands of ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ.
That year Muʿāwiyah conducted a campaign against Qinnasrīn(3).
In the same year ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān led the people in the Pilgrimage.
Ibn Jarīr states: Some report that in this very year Muʿāwiyah campaigned against Cyprus(4).
Al-Wāqidī, however, places that expedition in the year 28 AH,
while Abū Maʿshar dates it to the year 33 AH—and Allah knows best.
Then the year 28 AH began.
[The Conquest of Cyprus]
In that year Ibn Jarīr(5), following al-Wāqidī, records the conquest of Cyprus. It is an island lying west of the Syrian coast, standing alone in the sea, with a long tail stretching toward the shore opposite Damascus, and its western end is its broadest part(6). The island abounds in fruit and in mineral resources, and it is a land of fine quality. Its opening was accomplished by Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān, who sailed to it with a large Muslim force. With him were ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit and his wife(7) Umm Ḥarām bint Milḥān, whose story has already been mentioned: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once slept in her house, then awoke laughing. She said, “Messenger of Allah, what makes you laugh?” He replied,
“A company from my community was just shown to me, riding upon the crest(8) of this sea like kings on their thrones.”
She said, “Messenger of Allah, supplicate Allah to make me one of them.”
He said,
“You are among the first.”
He then slept again, awoke laughing, and repeated the same. She said, “Supplicate Allah to …”