Abd Allah ibn Sa'd

He came from the Banu Amir ibn Lu'ayy clan of the Quraish tribe and was an adopted brother of the caliph Uthman.[2]

When Muhammad had gathered enough troops to besiege Mecca, he issued an order to his followers that Abd Allah ibn Sa'd would be one of those who had to be killed even though he was hiding beneath the curtain of the Kaaba. But Abd Allah then went to his adopted brother, Uthman ibn Affan asking for help. Then together they went to Muhammad to beg for forgiveness. When he met the two of them, Muhammad, who was accompanied by some of his companions, was silent for a long time until he said yes. But after the two of them left, Muhammad said to his followers, "I kept silent so that one of you might get up and strike off his head!" One of the Ansar said, "Then why didn’t you give me a sign, O apostle of God?" He answered that a prophet does not kill by pointing.[3]

A hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud similarly records Abd Allah ibn Sa’d's tense encounter with Muhammad in Mecca after his defection and fleeing from Mohammad after the capture of Mecca by the Muslims.[4] In his History, al-Tabari briefly records about Abd Allah and Muhammad that "Abd Allah b. Sa`d b. Abi Sarh used to write for him. He apostatised from Islam and later returned to Islam on the day of the conquest of Mecca".[5]

Umar appointed him as second-in-command (lieutenant) to Amr ibn al-As for the campaign of conquest of Egypt. He played a major role as a military commander in the conquest of Egypt. He was commander of the right flank of Amr's and participated in all the battles fought during the conquest of Egypt under Amr’s command.[6]

When Uthman became caliph in 644 CE, he appointed Abd Allah governor of Egypt replacing 'Amr ibn al-'As, with Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa as his aide. Abd Allah brought over a large foreign entourage and established the diwan, "and commanded that all the taxes of the country should be regulated there".[7]

The protests against Abd Allah appear to have been instigated by his aide, Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa. Muhammad's father (Abi Hudhayfa) was an early convert to Islam who died in the Battle of Yamama. Muhammad was raised by Uthman. When he reached maturity he participated in the foreign military campaigns and accompanied Abd Allah to Egypt as an aide. Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa admonished Abd Allah, recommending changes in the government but Abd Allah did not respond. After continuous efforts to persuade Abd Allah to make changes in the government , eventually Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa lost patience and turned from sympathetic admonisher to a disillusioned opponent; first of Abd Allah and later of Uthman for appointing him. Abd Allah wrote to Uthman claiming that Muhammad was spreading sedition and that if nothing was done to stop him, the situation would escalate. Uthman attempted to silence Muhammad's protests with 30,000 dirhams and expensive presents. Uthman's gifts were perceived as a bribe and backfired with Muhammad bringing the money and presents into the Great Mosque saying;

“Do you see what Uthman is trying to do? He is trying to buy my faith. He has sent these coins and these goods to me as a bribe.”

Uthman sent numerous placatory letters to Muhammad, but he continued building community opposition against Abd Allah. In 656 Egyptian community leaders decided to send a delegation to Medina to demanding Abd Allah's dismissal. Abd Allah also left for Medina to defend himself at the court of the caliph. In his absence, Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa assumed charge of the government.

When Abd Allah reached Ayla, he was told that Uthman's house was under siege (Siege of Uthman) and decided to return to Egypt. At the border he was informed that Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa had given orders to prevent him from entering Egypt. He then went to Palestine awaiting the outcome of events in Medina. In the meantime, Uthman was killed in Medina, and when Abd Allah heard the news, he left Palestine, and went to Damascus to live under the protection of Muawiyah I.

• List of rulers of Egypt