History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

62 The History of Islarn
Emigration
When the Umayyad caliphate saw its end in 132 A.H. and the
Abbasid caliphate came into power Abdur Rahman was 20 years
old. Abdur Rahman had an estate on the bank of the Euphrates
While the Umayyads were being massacred by the Abbasids in
Damascus, Abdur Rahman was away at his estate. When he came to
know of the death of the Umayyad's, he shifted to a forestand
encamped there for safety.
One day
when Abdur Rahman was in his camp and his four-year old
son, who was playing outside, rushed into the camp shocked and
frightened. When Abdur Rahman went outside, he noticed the black
Abbasid flag flying and moving towards him. He took his son and
fled towards the river. He was on way to the river when the Abbasids
appeared chasing and promising him peace and safety. He paid no
heed to their promise. He plunged into the river with his son stuck to
his chest and swam across the river. His enemies saw him helpless
and held themselves back from jumping into the river.
Abdur Rahman in Africa
Abdur Rahman wandered from village to village in the guise of a
traveler with his child on his lap. In such a wretched state, he reached
^Palestine where he came across his father's slave Badr who was
•heading for Egypt in the same state. Badr had with him some money
and an ornament of Abdur Rahman's sister, which he gave to Abdur
Rahman to improve his condition. He then started a journey as a
merchant in the company of Badr and reached Egypt and contacted
supporters of the Umayyads. After a short stay in Egypt, he left for the
other territories of Africa.
Abdur Rahman's Plan to Found His Rule in Africa
TT*e
Governor of Africa showed Abdur Rahman his love and respect.
However, when he came to know that Abdur Rahman wanted to
found his rule in Africa and at the same time that the Abbasid
caliphate was growing strong, he made a plan to arrest Abdur
Rahman and send him to the Abbasid Caliph. But the plot was