History of Islam Vol 2 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

Caliphate ofBanu Umayyah (First Phase) 35
Muslim holidays). Mughira sent an army of three thousand soldiers
them. In ensuing battle, the three hundred Khawarij defeated the
after
three thousand soldiers from Kufa.
More men were sent and
they also met the same fate. A1 last, under
the command of Ma'qil bin Qais a large army set out. As a
consequence, Ma'qil bin Qais and Masturad bin Alqama were killed
while facing each other and all the Khawarij except five were
exterminated, the impact of this event was so great that Mughira bin
Shoba paid more attention and was more cautious about the threat of
the Khawarij
The northern borders of Syria
always faced danger from the Roman
Empire. There was also the danger of a naval attack on the Syrian
coast. Egypt and North Africa were also under constant attack by the
Romans. Amir Muawiya
after settling the eastern problems,
spent all his energy and resources confronting the danger from the
Romans. He prepared a
naval force and enhanced the salaries of the
sailors to attract others to join. He had two thousand war boats
prepared, made Junada bin Umayya the Admiral. He made the army
more powerful, arranged separately the defensive and offensive
armies besides enhancing the supply links. He divided the army into
two parts. The first was called Shitiwi, meaning winter forces and the
second was Saifia, meaning summer forces. In both seasons the army
kept a strict vigil on the borders by eliminating and suppressing the
Roman forces. The naval forces made the Island of Cyprus its
headquarters, they dispossessed the Roman forces from the
Mediterranean Sea and made the Egyptian and Syrian coasts safe
from enemy naval invasion.
The adjoining provinces of Sajistan like
Rehaj were conquested. In the same year, the Islamic army made
advances towards Barqah, (historic region of North Africa and Sudan)
and thus the area of Islamic rule was considerably extended.
invasion of Constantinople
In 48 A.H. after taking stock of the Roman emperor's power, Amir
uawiya ^ ai^ thought it necessary to Hunch a naval attack on the
oman capital of Constantinople and put an end to the air of
invulnerability they enjoyed and shatter the future ambitions of the