Uqba ibn Nafi (Arabic: عقبة بن نافع‎ ​ translit: ‘Uqbah ibn Nāfi‘) (also referred to as Uqba bin Nafe, Uqba Ibn al Nafia, or Akbah) (622–683) was an Arab general under the Umayyad dynasty, who began the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb, including present-day western Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. He died in 683. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals. ... Events Hijra - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - year one of the Islamic calendar. ... Events Umayyad caliph Yazid I (680 - 683) succeeded by Muawiya II ibn Yazid (683 - 684) End of the reign of Pacal the Great, ruler of Maya state of Palenque Births Emperor Mommu of Japan Bilge Khan, emperor of the Gokturks I Sin, Chinese astronomer Deaths Pope Leo II Tang Gao... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب) are a heterogeneous ethnic group who are predominantly speakers of the Arabic language, mainly found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the grandest architectural legacies of the Umayyads. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... The Algerian bay (view from the west). ...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... Events Umayyad caliph Yazid I (680 - 683) succeeded by Muawiya II ibn Yazid (683 - 684) End of the reign of Pacal the Great, ruler of Maya state of Palenque Births Emperor Mommu of Japan Bilge Khan, emperor of the Gokturks I Sin, Chinese astronomer Deaths Pope Leo II Tang Gao...

In 670 Uqba led an Arab army to North Africa, crossing the Egyptian deserts, and setting up military posts at regular intervals along his route. In a desert and inhospitable region of what is now Tunisia, he established the town now called Kairouan (Kairwan or al Qayrawan, meaning "camp" or "caravanserai" in Arabic) about 160 kilometres south of present-day Tunis, which he used as a base for further operations. Events On the death of his brother Clotaire, Childeric II becomes king of all of the Frankish kingdoms -- Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy. ... Mosque of Oqba Kairouan (Arabic القيروان) (variations include Kairwan, Kayrawan, Al Qayrawan) is a city in Tunisia, about 160 kilometres south of Tunis. ... A caravanserai (also spelt caravansarai, caravansary Persian كاروانسرا, Turkish: kervansaray), means home or shelter for caravans (caravan meaning a group or convoy of soldiers, traders or pilgrims engaged in long distance travel). ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic and Aramaic. ...

According to one legend, one of Uqba's soldiers stumbled across a golden goblet buried in the sands. It was recognised as one that had disappeared from Mecca some years before, and when it was dug out of the sand a spring appeared, with waters said to come from the same source as those of the sacred Zamzam Well in Mecca. This story led to Kairouan becoming a place of pilgrimage, and then a holy city (the Mecca of the Maghreb) and the most important city in North Africa. Mecca IPA: or Makkah IPA: (in full: Makkah al-Mukarramah; Arabic: ‎, Turkish: Mekke) is the capital city of Saudi Arabias Makkah province, in the historic Hejaz region. ... The Well of Zamzam (or the Zamzam Well, or just Zamzam; Arabic: زمزم) is a well located within the Masjid al Haram in Mecca, near the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam. ... For other uses of the word pilgrimage, see Pilgrimage (disambiguation). ...

In 683 Uqba was ambushed and killed at Biskra by Kusaila. His armies evacuated Kairouan and withdrew to Barqa (though Kairouan was soon recaptured). His descendants can be found in the Lake Chad region to this day. Events Umayyad caliph Yazid I (680 - 683) succeeded by Muawiya II ibn Yazid (683 - 684) End of the reign of Pacal the Great, ruler of Maya state of Palenque Births Emperor Mommu of Japan Bilge Khan, emperor of the Gokturks I Sin, Chinese astronomer Deaths Pope Leo II Tang Gao... Biskra is a city in Biskra province, Algeria Extern Link: http://www. ... Kusaila (? - 690; also spelled Kusayla, Kosaila and Kasila) was a 7th century chief of the berbers in resistance to Arabs in the Aures mountains, and preceeded el-kahina. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Lake Chad (in French: Lac Tchad) is a large, shallow lake in Africa. ...

Gibbon's account

Edward Gibbon, referring to Uqba ibn Nafi as Akbah, gives him the title "conqueror of Africa," beginning his story when he "marched from Damascus at the head of ten thousand of the bravest Arabs; and the genuine force of the Moslems was enlarged by the doubtful aid and conversion of many thousand Barbarians." He then marched into North Africa. Gibbon continues: "It would be difficult, nor is it necessary, to trace the accurate line of the progress of Akbah." On the North African coast, "the well-known titles of Bugia, and Tangier define the more certain limits of the Saracen victories." Gibbon then tells the story of Akbah's conquest of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana. Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: الشام ash-Shām) is the largest city and capital of Syria. ... Bugia is either: A western (e. ... Tangier, Morocco Tangier (Tanja طنچة in Berber and Arabic, Tánger in Spanish, and Tanger in French), is a city of northern Morocco with a population of 669,685 (2004 census). ... It has been suggested that Serkland be merged into this article or section. ... Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120. ... In the first century A.D., the Emperor Claudius divided the Roman province of Mauretania into Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana. ...

"The fearless Akbah plunged into the heart of the country, traversed the wilderness in which his successors erected the splendid capitals of Fez and Morocco, and at length penetrated to the verge of the Atlantic and the great desert. . . . The career, though not the zeal, of Akbah was checked by the prospect of a boundless ocean. He spurred his horse into the waves, and raising his eyes to heaven, exclaimed: “Great God! if my course were not stopped by this sea, I would still go on, to the unknown kingdoms of the West, preaching the unity of thy holy name, and putting to the sword the rebellious nations who worship another gods than thee.” Yet this Islamic Alexander, who sighed for new worlds, was unable to preserve his recent conquests. By the universal defection of the Greeks and Africans he was recalled from the shores of the Atlantic, and the surrounding multitudes left him only the resource of an honourable death. The last scene was dignified by an example of national virtue. An ambitious chief, who had disputed the command and failed in the attempt, was led about as a prisoner in the camp of the Arabian general. The insurgents had trusted to his discontent and revenge; he disdained their offers and revealed their designs. In the hour of danger, the grateful Akbah unlocked his fetters, and advised him to retire; he chose to die under the banner of his rival. Embracing as friends and martyrs, they unsheathed their scimeters, broke their scabbards, and maintained an obstinate combat, till they fell by each other’s side on the last of their slaughtered countrymen."

Bab Bou Jeloud, gate to the Old Medina of Fes Leather dyeing vats in Fes Fes or Fez (Arabic فـاس [Fās], French Fès) (located at ) is the third largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca and Rabat, with a population of 946,815 (2004 census). ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Satellite image The Sahara is the worlds largest hot desert, and second largest desert at over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 mi²), almost as large as the United States. ...

See also

• Islamic conquest of North Africa
• Kusaila
• Muslim conquests
• Islam in Chad

The Islamic conquest of North Africa began early in the century of rapid Arab and Islamic expansion following the death of Mohammed in 632 CE. By 640 the Arabs controlled Mesopotamia, had invaded Armenia, and were concluding their conquest of Byzantine Syria. ... Kusaila (? - 690; also spelled Kusayla, Kosaila and Kasila) was a 7th century chief of the berbers in resistance to Arabs in the Aures mountains, and preceeded el-kahina. ... The Muslim conquests represent a century of rapid Arab and Islamic expansion that took place from the death of Mohammed in 632 to the Battle of Tours in 732, during which time a vast Muslim empire and area of influence would come to stretch from India, across the Middle East... Islam became a dynamic political and military force in the Middle East in the decades immediately following Muhammads death. ...

External link

• Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 51