Abdallah ibn Sa'd

Al-Tabari has recorded in his tafsir that although Ibn Abi Sarh had apostatized, he returned to Islam before the conquest of Mecca.[1][2] On the other hand, in his History, al-Tabari records about Ibn Abi Sarh and Muhammad that "Abdallah b. Sa`d b. Abi Sarh used to write for him. He apostatized from Islam and later returned to Islam on the day of the conquest of Mecca".[3] A hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud records an account of Ibn Abi Sarh's tense encounter with Muhammad on that day.[4]

When Uthman became caliph in 644 CE, he appointed Ibn Abi Sarh governor of Egypt replacing 'Amr ibn al-'As, with Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa as his aide. Ibn Abi Sarh brought over a large foreign entourage and established the diwan, "and commanded that all the taxes of the country should be regulated there".[5]

The Copts viewed Ibn Abi Sarh as a "lover of money" who spent the revenues upon himself. In his time a famine struck Upper Egypt such that many Copts fled to the Nile Delta.[5] Soon the Arabs protested his governorship, too.

Some of the protests appear to have been instigated by his aide, Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa. Muhammad's father (Abi Hudhayfa) was an early convert to Islam who died in the Battle of Yamama. Muhammad was raised by Uthman. When he reached maturity he participated in the foreign military campaigns and accompanied Ibn Abi as-Sarh to Egypt as an aide. Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa admonished Ibn Abi Sarh, recommending changes in the government but Ibn Abi Sarh did not respond. After continuous efforts, eventually Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa lost patience and turned from sympathetic admonisher to a disillusioned opponent—first of Ibn Abi Sarh and later of Uthman for appointing him. Ibn Abi Sarh wrote to Uthman claiming that Muhammad was spreading sedition and that if nothing was done to stop him, the situation would escalate. Uthman attempted to silence Muhammad's protests with 30,000 dirhams and expensive presents. Uthman's gifts has been misunderstood as a kind of bribe and that caused a backfire, with Muhammad bringing the money and presents into the Great Mosque saying;

“Do you see what Uthman is trying to do? He is trying to buy my faith. He has sent these coins and these goods to me as a bribe.”

Uthman sent numerous placatory letters to Muhammad, but he continued building the agitation against Ibn Abi Sarh. In 656 the leaders of Egypt decided to send a delegation to Medina to demanding Ibn Abi Sarh's dismissal. Ibn Abi Sarh also left for Medina to defend himself at the court of the caliph. In his absence, Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa assumed charge of the government.

When Ibn Abi Sarh reached Ayla, he was told that Uthman's house was under siege (Siege of Uthman) and decided to return to Egypt. At the border he was informed that Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa had given orders to prevent him from entering Egypt. He then went to Palestine awaiting the outcome of events in Medina. In the meantime, Uthman was killed in Medina, and when Ibn Abi Sarh heard the news, he left Palestine, and went to Damascus to live under the protection of Muawiyah I.

• List of rulers of Egypt