First Naval Fleet in Islam

The first ever naval fleet in Islam was established during the era of Hazrat Uthman (ra) in 28 AH. Amir Mu‘awiyah bin Abi Sufyan was the first person to fight a naval battle during the era of Hazrat Uthman’s (ra) Khilafat. Amir Mu‘awiyah sought permission from Hazrat Umar (ra) once before to take part in a naval battle, but Hazrat Umar (ra) did not grant him permission. When Hazrat Uthman (ra) became Khalifa, Amir Mu‘awiyah mentioned this a few times again and sought permission for this. Eventually, Hazrat Uthman (ra) gave him permission but stated that he should not include anyone to be part of the army nor draw a lot to decide, in fact give them the choice and take only those who wish to go along with you and assist them. Amir Mu‘awiyah did as he was instructed. Abdullah bin Qais Jasi was appointed as the commander of the naval force and he fought a total of 50 battles in the season of summer and winter and not a single soldier drowned and nor did they incur any kind of loss.

(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 5 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Fikr, 2002], p. 97)