Khalifa Uthman bin Affan - Achievements of Abdullah b Sa'ad

Criticism against Uthman
When Uthman appointed Abdullah b Sa'ad as the Governor of Egypt in succession to 'Amr b A1 'Aas he was accused of nepotism, and of doing grave injustice to 'Amr b A1 'Aas the Conqueror of Egypt. The charge of nepotism against Uthman is not correct, because Abdullah had been appointed as Governor by Umar. Uthman merely carried forward the policies that had been laid down by Umar. The charge of nepotism falls to the ground because Abdullah b Sa'ad alone was not related to him 'Amr b A1 'Aas was also related to him. If Abdullah b Sa'ad was the foster brother of Uthman, 'Amr b A1 'Aas was a brother-in-law of Uthman as he had married a sister of Uthman. Uthman had no intention to depose 'Amr b Al 'Aas . He wanted him to remain the Governor as well as the supreme military commander; he only wanted him to give independent charge of revenue department to Abdullah b Sa'ad. Abdullah b Sa'ad was an expert in revenue administration and financial management while 'Amr b Al 'Aas was Rood as a military commander. The division of functions proposed by Uthman was sound in principle and was in the best interests of the State. 'Amr b Al 'Aas did not accept the reform because he was interested more in matters of personal prestige than in measures devised in the interests of the State. If in the circumstances, 'Amr b Al 'Aas was deposed, the blame did not lie with Uthman. 'Amr b Al 'Aas was himself to be blamed for the crisis.

Achievements of Abdullah b Sa'ad
Abdullah b Sa'ad held the office of the Governor under Uthman for eleven years. Abdullah b Sa'ad made extensive conquests. He conquered the whole of North Africa. He even conquered a part of Spain. He undertook an expedition to Nubia. He built a strong navy and defeated the Byzantines in numerous naval battles. Under him the revenues increased substantially. Abdullah b Sa'ad was a good ruler, but in spite of that Egypt became a hot bed of sedition against the Government of Uthman. Muhammad b Hudhaifa, Muhammad b Abu Bakr poisoned the political atmosphere in Egypt by carrying a vilification campaign against Uthman. They were supported by Umar b Yasir, Ibn Saba, and the party of 'Amr b Al 'Aas . In 655 C.E. when Abdullah b Sa'ad went to Madina, power was captured in his absence by Muhammad b Hudhalfa, Abdullah returned to Egypt, but he was unable to recapture power. He retired to Ramlah were he died two years later.