Chapter 3: The Battle of Caesarea
The Battle of Caesarea:
In the fifteenth year AH, Umar ibn Al-Khattab appointed Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan as commander over Caesarea, an ancient city between modern-day Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Umar wrote to Mu’awiyah: I have appointed you to govern Caesarea. Go there and ask Allah for help against them. Often say: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah’!
Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan then went with his soldiers and laid siege to Caesarea, where residents of the city fought against him but were eventually pushed back into their fortress.
The army of Caesarea attempted another attack against Mu’awiyah, but Allah SWT granted victory to Mu’awiyah and the Muslim army.
Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan sent the news of this major victory to the Khalifah, Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Caesarea was among the last cities conquered under Mu’awiyah’s command, and around twenty years later, he became the first Umayyad Caliph.