Amr ibn al-As

Amr ibn al-As led the Muslim Arab army into Egypt, then a province of the Byzantine Empire. He defeated the Byzantines at the Battle of Heliopolis and captured the fortress of Babylon, leading to the surrender of Alexandria in 642.

Amr ibn al-As established the city of Fustat near the Nile Delta as the new capital of Muslim Egypt. The city became a major administrative and commercial center, later evolving into modern Cairo.

After the conquest, Amr ibn al-As was appointed governor of Egypt by Caliph Umar. He administered the province, implemented tax systems, and oversaw the construction of the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, the first mosque in Africa.