Introduction
Amr ibn al-As was one of the sharpest minds of Quraysh. For many years he opposed the Prophet and wished to kill him, as he later admitted. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah he went to Madinah, offered his allegiance, and asked to be forgiven. The Prophet told him that Islam wipes out what came before it.
The Prophet soon trusted him with the army of Dhat al-Salasil, and later with the governorship of Oman. Under Abu Bakr and Umar he was a major commander in Palestine and then led the conquest of Egypt, founding Fustat. In the sources he is a symbol of both military skill and the power of a changed heart.
On his deathbed he reviewed the three stages of his life, wept, and left instructions that after burial people should stay at his grave for the time it takes to slaughter and distribute a camel so he could draw comfort from their company. He died in Egypt in 43 AH.
The story
Before 8 AH
Opposed the Prophet and wished to kill him, as he described later.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih Arabic text
… أَحَدٌ أَشَدَّ بُغْضًا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنِّي وَلاَ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدِ اسْتَمْكَنْتُ مِنْهُ فَقَتَلْتُهُ فَلَوْ مُتُّ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ لَكُنْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَلَمَّا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الإِسْلاَمَ فِي قَلْبِي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ ابْسُطْ يَمِينَكَ فَلأُبَايِعْكَ. فَبَسَطَ يَمِينَهُ - قَالَ - فَقَبَضْتُ يَدِي. قَالَ" مَا …
“there was no other desire stronger in me than the one that I should overpower him and kill him”
8 AH
Accepted Islam and pledged allegiance, asking for his past to be forgiven.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih Arabic text
… قُلْتُ أَنْ يُغْفَرَ لِي. قَالَ" أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الإِسْلاَمَ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ وَأَنَّ الْهِجْرَةَ تَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهَا وَأَنَّ الْحَجَّ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ". وَمَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ أَجَلَّ فِي عَيْنِي مِنْهُ وَمَا كُنْتُ أُطِيقُ أَنْ أَمْلأَ عَيْنَىَّ مِنْهُ إِجْلاَلاً لَهُ وَلَوْ سُئِلْتُ أَنْ أَصِفَهُ …
“Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)?”
8 AH
Appointed to lead the army of Dhat al-Salasil.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3662Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ" عَائِشَةُ". فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ" أَبُوهَا". قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ" ثُمَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ". فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً.
“The Prophet (ﷺ) deputed me to lead the Army of Dhat-as-Salasil”
13-15 AH
Commander in the conquest of Palestine and Syria (biographical sources).
18-21 AH
Led the conquest of Egypt and founded Fustat (biographical sources).
43 AH
Died in Egypt after a second term as governor.
A day in their footsteps
5 small, repeatable practices from Amr ibn al-As's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Taking the concession when harm is likely
On a freezing night in the Dhat al-Salasil expedition, Amr became junub, feared for his life if he washed, made tayammum and led the dawn prayer. The Prophet asked him and, when Amr cited "do not kill yourselves", he laughed and said nothing. Amr kept the prayer with the concession.
Try this today
Take Allah's ease when real harm threatens, and do not drop the prayer.
Sit with this
Do you know the concessions Allah has given you, and use them without dropping the prayer?
Sources
Sunan Abi Dawud 334Sahih … فَأَشْفَقْتُ إِنِ اغْتَسَلْتُ أَنْ أَهْلِكَ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ بِأَصْحَابِي الصُّبْحَ فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ" يَا عَمْرُو صَلَّيْتَ بِأَصْحَابِكَ وَأَنْتَ جُنُبٌ". فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالَّذِي مَنَعَنِي مِنَ الاِغْتِسَالِ وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ{ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا} فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ …
“I, therefore, performed tayammum and led my companions in the dawn prayer”
Sunan Abi Dawud 334Sahih … وَأَنْتَ جُنُبٌ". فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالَّذِي مَنَعَنِي مِنَ الاِغْتِسَالِ وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ{ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا} فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ مِصْرِيٌّ مَوْلَى خَارِجَةَ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ وَلَيْسَ هُوَ ابْنَ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ …
“I heard Allah say: "Do not kill yourself, verily Allah is merciful to you."”
Asking what matters most
Even as a newly appointed commander, Amr asked the Prophet who was dearest to him. He was told Aisha, then her father, then Umar, and so on. He took the answer without argument and kept serving.
Try this today
Ask what matters most to Allah and His Messenger, and accept the answer without taking offence.
Sit with this
Can you hear an honest answer you did not hope for without taking offence?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 3662Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ" عَائِشَةُ". فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ" أَبُوهَا". قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ" ثُمَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ". فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً.
“Who is the most beloved person to you?”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3885Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَعْمَلَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ. قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ" عَائِشَةُ". قُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ" أَبُوهَا". هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
“Who is the most beloved to you among the people?”
Repentance and fresh start
Amr went to the Prophet to pledge allegiance but held back his hand, wanting a guarantee of forgiveness. The Prophet explained that Islam, migration and Hajj each wipe out what came before. Amr then stayed loyal to Islam for the rest of his life.
Try this today
Never assume your past makes it too late. Return, and then commit.
Sit with this
What in your past are you treating as too late to turn back from?
Source
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih … يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ وَأَنَّ الْهِجْرَةَ تَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهَا وَأَنَّ الْحَجَّ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ". وَمَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ أَجَلَّ فِي عَيْنِي مِنْهُ وَمَا كُنْتُ أُطِيقُ أَنْ أَمْلأَ عَيْنَىَّ مِنْهُ إِجْلاَلاً لَهُ وَلَوْ سُئِلْتُ أَنْ أَصِفَهُ مَا أَطَقْتُ لأَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ أَمْلأُ عَيْنَىَّ مِنْهُ …
“Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily the pilgrimage wipes out all the (previous) misdeeds”
Revering the Prophet
Amr said that after Islam no one was dearer to him than the Prophet, and that he could not look at him fully out of reverence. If asked to describe his features, he said he could not, because he had not looked fully at him.
Try this today
Lower your gaze and voice in the Prophet's presence by sending salawat often.
Sit with this
How often today will you send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ?
Source
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih … أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ أَجَلَّ فِي عَيْنِي مِنْهُ وَمَا كُنْتُ أُطِيقُ أَنْ أَمْلأَ عَيْنَىَّ مِنْهُ إِجْلاَلاً لَهُ وَلَوْ سُئِلْتُ أَنْ أَصِفَهُ مَا أَطَقْتُ لأَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ أَمْلأُ عَيْنَىَّ مِنْهُ وَلَوْ مُتُّ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ لَرَجَوْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ وَلِينَا أَشْيَاءَ مَا أَدْرِي مَا حَالِي فِيهَا فَإِذَا …
“none was more sublime in my eyes than he”
Preparing for death with du'a
Amr wept at the end of his life and asked his sons to bury him well and stay at the grave long enough for a camel to be slaughtered and distributed, so that their company would reassure him as he answered the angels. It shows his hope in the du'a of the living.
Try this today
Ask your family to stay and pray at your grave, and do the same for others.
Sit with this
Who will stand at your grave and pray for you, and whose grave could you visit?
Source
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih … عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ لَرَجَوْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ وَلِينَا أَشْيَاءَ مَا أَدْرِي مَا حَالِي فِيهَا فَإِذَا أَنَا مُتُّ فَلاَ تَصْحَبْنِي نَائِحَةٌ وَلاَ نَارٌ فَإِذَا دَفَنْتُمُونِي فَشُنُّوا عَلَىَّ التُّرَابَ شَنًّا ثُمَّ أَقِيمُوا حَوْلَ قَبْرِي قَدْرَ مَا تُنْحَرُ جَزُورٌ وَيُقْسَمُ لَحْمُهَا حَتَّى أَسْتَأْنِسَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْظُرَ مَاذَا أُرَاجِعُ بِهِ رُسُلَ …
“stand around it for the time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed”
Virtues
The Prophet said that the people submitted while Amr ibn al-As believed.
“The people submitted while 'Amr bin Al-'As believed”
Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَسْلَمَ النَّاسُ وَآمَنَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِي". هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ لَهِيعَةَ عَنْ مِشْرَحِ بْنِ هَاعَانَ وَلَيْسَ إِسْنَادُهُ بِالْقَوِيِّ.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3844Hasan
The Prophet gave him command of the army of Dhat al-Salasil.
“The Prophet (ﷺ) deputed me to lead the Army of Dhat-as-Salasil”
Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ" عَائِشَةُ". فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ" أَبُوهَا". قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ" ثُمَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ". فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3662Sahih
Sayings and moments
On his deathbed he said the best thing he could count on was the testimony of faith.
“The best thing which we can count upon is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
Arabic text
… عليه وسلم بِكَذَا قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ. فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا نُعِدُّ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ عَلَى أَطْبَاقٍ ثَلاَثٍ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي وَمَا أَحَدٌ أَشَدَّ بُغْضًا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنِّي وَلاَ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدِ اسْتَمْكَنْتُ مِنْهُ فَقَتَلْتُهُ فَلَوْ مُتُّ عَلَى تِلْكَ …
Sahih Muslim 121Sahih
Words on this page
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Hajjالحج
- The pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, required once in a lifetime of every adult Muslim who is able.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Qurayshقريش
- The leading tribe of Makkah, to which the Prophet ﷺ belonged, and which opposed him for most of his mission.
- Salawatصلوات
- Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, as in the words "sallallahu alayhi wa sallam".
- Tayammumتيمم
- Purification with clean earth or dust when water is unavailable or harmful to use.
Related companions
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- خالد بن الوليدKhalid ibn al-WalidBrilliant Qurashi cavalry commander who accepted Islam before the conquest of Makkah and was called a sword a…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- عائشة بنت أبي بكرAisha bint Abi BakrWife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, a leading scholar of the first generation who asked, learned an…
Sources and review
- Sunnah.com hadith collections (text confirmed via hadith-api mirror) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Amr ibn al-As (dates and biography) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.