Amr ibn Al-‘As was commander of the army sent to conquer Egypt
during the Caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab. After the conquest
Amr became Egypt's first Islamic governor (wali). The Muslim
forces laid siege to the Babylon Fortress in 641CE (in the area
known as Coptic Cairo today) where al-Muqawqis, the Egyptian
Ruler was holed up. General Amr ibn Al-‘As sent a delegation of
ten men, headed by Ubadah ibn as-Samit, to speak with al-
Muqawqis. Ubadah was black, and when the delegation travelled by
boat to al-Muqawqis and entered his place, Ubadah stepped
forward and al-Muqawqis was alarmed because of his blackness. He
said, "Take this black man away from me and let someone else
come and speak to me!" They said, "This black man is the best of
us in knowledge and wisdom. He is our leader and the best of us,
and has been appointed over us. We all refer to his opinion, and
our leader has appointed him over us and ordered us not to go
against him." Al-Muqawqis said to the delegation, "How could you
accept this black m