He was present at the conquest of Egypt, and it was he who travelled to ʿUmar with the news of Alexandria’s surrender. He fought beside Ibn Abī Sarḥ against the Berbers—losing an eye on that day—and led many campaigns in the lands of the Maghrib.
During the period of ʿAlī he remained in Egypt among the partisans of ʿUthmān and never pledged allegiance to ʿAlī at all. When Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān took Egypt he honored him and appointed him governor there after ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ. ʿAbd Allāh had held the province for two years following his father’s tenure, after which Muʿāwiyah relieved him and installed Muʿāwiyah ibn Ḥudayj. He remained in Egypt until he died there in this very year.
Hāniʾ ibn Niyār (1), Abū Burdah al-Balawī—[the maternal uncle of al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib] (2)—is the Companion whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ granted a special concession to sacrifice an ʿanāq (3) (a young she-goat), informing him that it would suffice for his offering, [though it would not suffice for anyone after him] (4). He witnessed al-ʿAqabah, Badr, and all the subsequent battles, and the banner of Banū Ḥārithah was in his hand on the day of the Conquest. May Allah be pleased with him.
[Then came the year 53 AH.]
In that year ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Umm al-Ḥakam al-Thaqafī campaigned in Byzantine lands and spent the winter there.
Also that year the Muslims, under Junādah ibn Abī Umayyah, captured the island of Rhodes. A detachment of Muslims remained on the island, showing great severity toward the unbelievers: they lay in wait for them at sea and cut off their routes. Muʿāwiyah supplied them with abundant provisions and generous stipends. Out of fear of the Franks they maintained strict vigilance, spending their nights in a massive fortress where they kept their families (5), mounts, and stores. They posted sentries along the shore to warn them should an enemy appear or anyone attempt treachery. They stayed in that condition until Muʿāwiyah died and his son Yazīd succeeded him, whereupon Yazīd relocated them from the island—despite the Muslims’ having owned there much wealth and extensive farmlands.