4-
Uqba Ibnu Naafi' returned to lead the fourth conquest:
After four years, i.e. in 50 A.H/670, the Khalif decided
to give the supreme command to the great leader Uqba Ibnu
Naafi' who entered Tunisia leading an army of ten thousands
soldiers (10000). He then built the city of Kairouan in
55 A.H/674.
5-
Dinar Abu al-Muhaajir the leader of the fifth conquest:
In 55 A.H Mua'wiya Bnu Abee Sufyaan discharged Uqba Ibnu
Naafi' of the leadership of the army and put in his place
Dinar Abu al-Muhaajir who arranged at once a military
expedition under his command. He advanced to the mountains
of al-Awraas, strongholds of strong and courageous Moroccans
whom the Byzantine and before them the Romans failed to
subdue. They gave them self-autonomy in return for their
loyalty to the Roman Empire. The Amir of the Moroccans
at the time was a man called Kusaylah who was the chief
of the tribe of Awraba. He enjoyed a huge influence among
his people. However, Abu al-Muhaajir managed to defeat
him in 67 A.H. Kusaylah escaped but Abu al-Muhaajir chased
him until he pretended to embrace Islam in order to escape
death. Abu al-Muhaajir, though, believed him and took
him as guide to obtain information about the country and
its people. The task of Abee al-Muhaajir finished because
the Islamic conquest reached only Algeria during the reign
of Mua'wiya Bnu Abee Sufyaan. As for Morocco, its conquest
started only during the reign of the second Ommiad Khalif,
Yazid Bnu Mua'wiya.
6-
Uqba Ibnu Naafi' the leader of the sixth conquest: In
61 A.H Yazid Bnu Mua'wiya appointed Uqba Ibnu Naafi' back
as leader of the army for the conquest of North Africa.
As mentioned before, Abu al-Muhaajir managed to secure
the friendship of Kusaylah and his people who embraced
Islam, though it seemed unwillingly. However, when Uqba
Ibnu Naafi' advanced toward the west, he was informed
that the Byzantine formed a new alliance with the Berbers
in order to stop the Islam moving forward. Nonetheless,
this conspiracy did not create any form of danger for
Uqba Ibnu Naafi' and his army. He defeated them and split
their throngs like a lion, and chased them to the mountains,
castles and fortress. As a result, the Berbers became
more fascinated by his courage and, accordingly, embraced
Islam willingly. Uqba Ibnu Naafi' continued his march
toward Sebta and Tangier passing by the Atlas mountains,
Tafilalt and then to the West, penetrating the tribes
of Sanhaajah and Sous till he found himself in front of
the Atlas Ocean, he said: "O Allah I did not come this
far out of arrogance, and You know that I am after the
same reason as were Your slave Dhul Karnayn, that You
will be worshipped Alone with no associate. By Allah,
if I know that there is a land behind this ocean, I will
rush into it for Your sake". Unfortunately, when Uqba
Ibnu Naafi' was on his way back, Kusaylah, who was concealing
a profound hatred for him because he had been maltreated
by Uqba Ibnu Naafi', prepared an ambush for him. With
the help of the Byzantine, He massed troops from the tribes
and clashed with Uqba Ibnu Naafi' in a sudden battle near
the river of al-Abyud. Uqba Ibnu Naafi' died a martyr
and the army suffered a heavy blow because of his death.
The battle took place in 65 A.H/684. However, the Moroccans
who tasted the feeling of Islam did not apostate.
7- Zuhayr Bnu Qays al-Balawi, the leader of the seventh
conquest, killed Kusaylah 67 A.H/686: While the Mujahidun
were gathering their strength and concentrating their
troops in Barqah (Libya), Abdul Malik Ibnu Marwaan was
anxious about the war raging between al-Hajjaaj Bnu Yusuf
and AbduAllah Bnu Zubayr. However, Abdul Malik did not
neglect the situation in Morocco and he decided to avenge
Uqba IBnu Naafi'. He appointed Zuhayr Bnu Qays al-Balawi
as leader for this new conquest of Morocco. This latter
advanced toward the West and rushed into a decisive battle
which ended by the killing of Kusaylah in 67 A.H/686,
and the defeat of the Byzantine naval forces and their
deportation from the Islamic coasts. Unfortunately, this
battle also witnessed the death of Zuhayr Bnu Qays al-Balawi
as martyr. He followed the caravan of martyrs who sacrificed
their purified bloods for the benefit of Islam in Morocco.
8-
Hassaan Bnu an-Nu'maan lead the eighth conquest 72 -85
AH/691-704: After Abdul Malik Bnu Marwaan had managed
to quell the riots and rebellions and establish peace
once again, he chose Hassaan Bnu an-Nu'maan al-Ghassa'ni
to lead a huge army of forty thousands (40000) in order
to complete the conquest of Morocco. Hassaan Bnu an-Nu'maan
marched with his army and conquered the mountains of al-Awraas
in 72 A.H/695 after he had subdued the resistance and
settled his account once for all with the Quartajiyyeen
(Carthage). Afterwards, all the Moroccan tribes surrendered
and rushed to join the Muslim army; and thanks to Hassaan
Bnu an-Nu'maan Morocco became an Arab country. It seemed
that Hassaan Bnu an-Nu'maan succeeded in his assignment
by adopting a policy of 'kindness but firmness' after
the battle. He also built a shipyard which called "Daar
as-Sina'a". More important, he disseminated the Islamic
Aqeedah (faith) and built mosques for teaching Arabic
language and Qur'an. Hassaan Bnu an-Nu'maan remained a
faithful leader of North Africa till he was replaced by
Musa Bnu Nusayr in 85 A.H/704. Truly, he was one of the
greatest conquerors and administrators in the Islamic
history.
9-
Musa Bnu Nusayr 85-95/704-714: He did not encounter any
difficulty in subduing the Berbers because all the previous
Muslim leaders had done the hard works. However, he managed
to win over Julian al-Ghimari and put Tariq Bnu Ziyaad
in charge of Tangier; and his army reached the south of
Morocco (Dar'ah). Then, he thought about conquering Spain
by request of Yulyaan who felt a personal animosity towards
Ludrik, the king of Spain. Eventually, Musa Bnu Nusayr
advanced towards Spain in 92 A.H/711 under the leadership
of Tariq Bnu Ziyaad.