On the 12th of December we remember the day Arab army touched the sacred land of Egypt, as Amr ibn al-As, the Arab leader, arrived in Arish, the most north-eastern Egyptian city in Sinai. This day is recorded in history, as we know that it coincided with the eve of Aid al-Adha that year, and was dated by the Arab historians as the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, in the year 18 AH. This corresponds to 12 December 639 AD, and 15 Kiahk 356 AM.
This day must be kept in Coptic memory as the blackest day in our history – and must be actively remembered. We must feel sorry for allowing that day to come.
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 12TH OF DECEMBER, WHEN WE LOST OUR SACRED LAND TO THE ARAB INVADERS
WE MUST MOURN THE DAY
The Arab Conquest of Egypt was largely complete by the summer of 642 AD, and on the 17 September the Romans of the Byzantine Empire evacuated Alexandria, the capital of the Egyptian Province, and handed it over to the invading Arabs and Muslims.
The Arab occupation of Egypt had started a little more than three years earlier. The first time the invading Arabs touched with their feet the sacred Egyptian soil was in 639 AD. Arab chronology of the Arab Conquest of Egypt is generally not to be trusted as prominent historians have more than once observed; however, there is one date that can be trusted: the 10 Dhu’l Hiijja, 18 AH.[1] On this day, according to Arab chronicles, the invading Arabs celebrated Eid al-Adha (عيد الاضحى), or the Muslim Day of Sacrifice –…
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