Abu al-Qasim bin 'Abd al-Hakam (ca. 798/9 - 871) is one of four 'Abd al-Hakams who belong to an influential family of scholars of ninth-century Egypt. This particular Abu al-Hakam is primarily known for his work titled Futuh Misr, or The Conquest of Egypt, North Africa and Spain (also known as The Conquest of Egypt and the West). Beginning with the admonition to respect the original Coptic inhabitants of the country, the book gives a history of Egypt that commences with legendary early beginnings and ends in the seventh century. It then gives a recital of the subsequent conquests of North Africa and Spain. The book ends with two exhaustive appendixes covering the major judges of Egypt down to the year 860. It also includes a list of the companions of the Prophet who came to Egypt, and the Hadiths transmitted there on their authority. "The oldest preserved work on the subject."--Frank Rosenthal, Brill's Encyclopedia of Islam