Part 10

Saying this he spurred his horse on. Waving the flag of Islam, he shouted out ‘Allaho Akbar!’ and ordered his troops to attack the enemy. Brimming with the turbulent emotions of Jihéd and with a desire to achieve martyrdom, he addressed his men.

“Companions! Advance! The cool breezes of Paradise wait to welcome us, and triumph and glory are waiting for us.”

Hearing these fervent words of their leader, the Mujahideen fell on the Romans in a massive attack. Confused and bewildered they did not know what to do. Khalid bin Waleed -% was enthralled by the spirit of Jihéd and the desire for martyrdom; he waded through the enemy lines right into the centre, reaping the harvest of destruction. On the very first day Rome had lost one hundred and twenty thousand men.

The spirit of the Mujahideen, their ardour and their craving for martyrdom was something to be seen. One of them, came to Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah, and told him that he had decided to die for Islam and asked him if he had any message for the Prophet 38. He told him to tell him that Allah Almighty had fulfilled all the promises he had made to the Mujahideen. ‘Ikrimah moved by the same spirit said

that even before accepting Islam he had never run away from the battlefield and he would not do it now when facing the enemies of Islam. He called on his companions to advance with the desire for martyrdom in their hearts. Tearing through the lines of the enemy he went right into the middle. Encircled by their swaying swords he was martyred in a moment and reached his destination - heaven. The battle continued the whole night and before dawn Khalid bin Waleed & had reached the tent of the commander. The Romans were beginning to flee and facing a disgraceful defeat were fast retreating. The Mujahideen had been tearing the enemy to pieces the whole night and some of them too had received deep wounds.

During the Battle of Yarmook an extraordinary incident of brotherhood, sympathy and sacrifice took place. Three severely injured Mujahideen were gasping for water, exhausted and parched with thirst. One of the other Mujahid ran and fetched some water and gave it to one of them. He had hardly reached for the bowl, when he lifted up his eyes and saw his companion in the same position as himself. He said he may be suffering more deeply and asked that the water be given to him first. The second Mujahid saw the third one gasping with thirst and preferred that the water be given first to his friend, and did not even touch it. When he ran to the third Mujahid his soul had thrown off its mortal coil, and flown to Paradise. When he ran to the second one he had already passed on to Paradise, and so also the first thirsty Mujahid. So none of them, in their love for the others had died without quenching their thirst. Such a proof of sacrifice and brotherhood is unparalleled in human history.

He asked if his Prophet 38 had received a special sword from heaven and given it to him, because his opponents always seemed to meet with defeat.

Khalid bin Waleed % said that he had certainly not received any sword from heaven.

Jarjah then asked him: “Why are you called Saifullah (Sword of Allah 38)?”

“Khalid you are the sword of Allah Almighty which has been made to annihilate the kuffar.”

Thus he came to be known as Saifullah (the Sword of Allah). Khalid bin Waleed said they were preaching the unity of Oneness of the One True Allah and inviting others to worship Him Alone.

Khalid bin Waleed 3 answered that he certainly could; in fact he could even be ina higher position. Moved deeply, the Roman said he wanted to swear allegiance to Islam and its Prophet 3.

Following the guidance and instructions of Khalid bin Waleed 4, he bathed and purified himself and read the words of acceptance, or the Kalimah' of Islam, and two Rakah of supererogatory prayers. He bid farewell to his army and joined the Mujahideen. This Roman General now fought as an ordinary soldier under Khalid bin Waleed -% for the honour and love of Islam, and gained martyrdom.

1 The kalimah accepting Islam - “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Mohammed is His Messenger.”

After coming into the fold of Islam he had had time only for those two Rakah of prayer; how fortunate he was that his end was blessed as a Muslim.

The great General, Khalid bin Waleed 4, who struck terror in the hearts of enemies was lying on his deathbed in Hammas. He was weeping copiously and saying that he had always wanted a martyr’s death, and had fought in so many wars, hoping to achieve his ambition. There was no joint in his body, which did not carry a scar of an arrow or of a stab given by the enemy’s sword. But he expressed his sorrow that he was dying in his bed and fate had not given him the golden robe of a martyr. As he said these words his soul left the mortal body and soared up to his Maker. When the Caliph ‘Umar Farooq - heard the news of his passing away he was grief-stricken and when he heard that he had left only his weapons and his horse, he said that Khalid bin Waleed -$ was a truly great man.

‘Umar Farooq - during his caliphate had dismissed Khalid bin Waleed -# from his command, When he had received the letter of dismissal, Khalid bin Waleed 4, like a true soldier of Islam, had relinquished his position without any arguments. And like a true soldier, he willingly and gladly agreed to fight for Allah 38 and Islam as an ordinary rank and file soldier. This willing acceptance added a golden unforgettable chapter in history.

The fact is that he spent his life like a great general and a faithful soldier. As result of spending his whole life in battle against the enemies of Islam, his body had become like an axis for all kind of wounds and pains. After his death he spent the first day of peace and comfort in Paradise. When his funeral cortege was Jeaving the house his mother wept and said that her son was undoubtedly braver than a lion, and more bountiful than a river. He defended the Ummah (nation of Islam) the way a lion protects its cubs. She prayed that the Mercy of Allah 38 should always shelter him. Her heartfelt prayer for him was that in the Hereafter he should find peace, comfort and tranquillity. He had always given her happiness and she prayed that he should get happiness in the Hereafter.

When ‘Umar Farooq 4% heard what his mother had said, he said she was right in all respects. When the body of Khalid bin Waleed was lowered into the grave, all the Companions had become silent with grief. The weeping of his horse, Ashgar, whose tears were rolling down his cheeks, broke this all-pervasive and prolonged silence. The Companions were amazed at this expression of grief.

Khalid bin Waleed %é, the great General of Islam had died in Hamas in the year 21" Hijrah, and was buried there. He had lived an enviable life and went to meet His Creature very peacefully.

Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah 2 Messenger of Allah x said:

“Every Ummah has a trustee; the trustee of my Ummah is Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah 43”

Abu ‘Ubaidah bin AI-Jarrah

A handsome, pleasant, well-spoken man with a tail, slim physique and bright sharp eyes, he was an image of dignity and grace. These were his physical good looks. By character and nature he was humble and modest. Among his friends he was gentle and soft as silk; when it came to a war between good and evil he was as hard as iron. He had lost his two front teeth in the Battle of Uhud. Two of the iron links of the Prophet's helmet had pierced his head and he had pulled them out with his teeth. He was unparalleted for his integrity and honesty among the Companions and the Prophet 3 had given him the distinguished title of ‘Trustee of the Ummah’.

@ Abu Bakr Siddiq 4 @ Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah 4 @ ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan

Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah, ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf, Argam bin Abi

Arqam, ‘Uthman bin Madh’oon in the company of Abu Bakr Siddiq went into the presence of the Prophet 38 and recited the pledge:

“None has the right to be worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.”

Doubtless these great people who were the foundations on which the castle of Islam was constructed.