Ibn Jarir, following al-Waqidi, stated that Cyprus was conquered in this year. Cyprus is an island in the sea to the west of the region of al-Sham (Greater Syria). It is independent. It has a long tail stretching toward the coast near al-Sham. Its western side is broader. This island contains many fruits and minerals. It is a beautiful city. It was conquered by Muʿawiya b. Abi Sufyan. Muʿawiya went to Cyprus with a large Muslim army. With him were ʿUbada b. al-Samit and his wife Umm Haram bint Milhan. A hadith concerning this woman was mentioned on previous pages. It is related that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), while sleeping in the house of Umm Milhan, awoke smiling, and Umm Milhan asked him:
– Why are you smiling, O Messenger of God?
– In my dream, it was shown to me that some people from my umma (community) were traveling upon the sea. They were like kings upon their thrones over a tribe.
– O Messenger of God, pray to Allah that He makes me one of those from your umma who travel upon the sea.
– You are among them.
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) then fell asleep again, and when he awoke, he smiled once more and said the same things. This time, Umm Haram bint Milhan again said to him:
– Pray to Allah that He makes me one of them.
– You are among the first group.
Umm Haram bint Milhan participated in the Cyprus campaign and died there. The second group seen in the Messenger of God’s (peace and blessings be upon him) dream, who traveled by sea, were the group of fighters who went to Constantinople after the Cyprus campaign.
In summary, what we wish to relate is this: Muʿawiya set out for Cyprus with a large army. This was ordered by ʿUthman, at Muʿawiya’s request. Muʿawiya had previously requested this from ʿUmar, but ʿUmar, thinking that if the Muslims traveled by sea they would be utterly broken and drowned, did not approve his request. ʿUthman, after Muʿawiya’s persistent request, permitted him to go to Cyprus, and so he went by sea. Meanwhile, by another route, ʿAbd Allah b. Saʿd b. Abi Sarh also went to Cyprus; the two military units joined there, killed many, took many captives, and acquired a large amount of fine spoils. When the captives were brought, Abu al-Dardaʾ began to weep. Jubayr b. Nufayr asked him:
– Are you weeping even on this day when Allah has strengthened Islam and the Muslims?
Abu al-Dardaʾ replied:
– Woe to you! These people were a nation possessing overwhelming power. They had kings. When they disregarded Allah’s command, Allah brought them to the state you see now. He imposed captivity upon them. When captivity befalls a people, they become of little worth before Allah.
After this, Muʿawiya made a peace treaty with the Cypriots on the condition that they pay an annual tribute of 7,000 dinars. When the Muslim army wished to depart from Cyprus, a mule was presented to Umm Haram so she could mount it. As she was mounting, she fell, broke her neck, and died, and was buried there. Her grave is there. The Cypriots show respect to her. When they go out to pray for rain, they seek rain by her intercession, saying: “This is the grave of a righteous woman.”
Al-Waqidi said: In the twenty-eighth year of the Hijra, Habib b. Maslama went to Syria, which was under Byzantine rule, and fought there.
In this year, ʿUthman also married Naʾila bint al-Farafisa al-Kalbiyya, a Christian woman. Before consummating the marriage, Naʾila became Muslim.
In this year, ʿUthman built his house in Madinat al-Zawra. Also in the same year, the Commander of the Faithful, ʿUthman b. ʿAffan, led the people in the Hajj.