The Call Falters for Lack of Leadership

After the death of the Negus, and before Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, the continent experienced a considerable period in which the Islamic call faltered for lack of leadership. With the death of the Negus—may Allah be pleased with him—the authority that had protected both the call and those engaged in it had disappeared.

When Islam had extended its dominion over most of the world and the Arabs had entered Allah’s religion in multitudes—specifically, early in the reign of the third caliph, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, may Allah be pleased with him—the Islamic call began to spread across the continent once more. Muslim armies advanced into North Africa until they conquered Tunisia in a campaign known as the Campaign of the ‘Abd Allāhs, because seven Companions, each named ‘Abd Allāh, took part in it. They were:

1- ‘Abd Allāh ibn Abī Sarh.
2- ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr.
3- ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar.
4- ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Abbās.
5- ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ja‘far.
6- ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd.
7- ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās.

Then, once Mu‘āwiyah’s rule was firmly established—may Allah be pleased with him—the Muslim armies resumed their advance into North Africa until they achieved victory and conquest. Islam entered the north of Africa and then its west, bringing with it the creed of pure monotheism—the creed