15 kilometers SW of modern Basra. While defeating the forces of the Sassanid Empire there, the Muslim commander Utba ibn Ghazwan erected his camp on the site of an old Persian military settlement called Vahestabad Ardasir, which was destroyed by the Arabs. While the name Al-Basrah in Arabic can mean "the overwatcher".

In 639, Umar established this encampment as a city with five districts, and appointed Abu Musa al-Ash'ari