Part 7

See with your own eyes that I am standing here firm and determined, and | will not flee.”

‘Abbas # was also calling out to the Mujahideen in a voice filled with grief:

“Where are you going? Come back to the Prophet! Allah Almighty’s Messenger is calling out to you! Turn back and return to him.”

When they heard the thundering voice of ‘Abbas #s they turned and rushed feeling guilty and crazed with love for the Prophet 3%. They were shouting,

“Here we come in response to your call, O Messenger of Allah!”

The scattered forces of the Mujahideen fervently consolidated their strength and made a massive attack on the enemy. The enemy could not withstand it and were repulsed. Within seconds the whole picture of the battlefield had changed.

After gaining victory in Hunnain the Muslim forces were encamped in the battlefield, resting and nursing the wounded, The Prophet 38 got news that some of the defeated soldiers had gathered in Tai’f. This city is located in a valley between two mountains, about sixty miles from Makkah, and is a cool and fertile place. It grows plenty of fruits, which are famous for their fresh and sweet flavour; especially the grapes and pomegranates are so sweet that the like of these can be found nowhere else in the world. [ have had occasion to visit Tai’f three times. It is a beautiful scenic place, with a cool climate and clear fresh and salt water streams. I have also enjoyed the fruit to be found there on these occasions, especially the pomegranates and grapes.

This is the very same city which the Prophet 3% had visited during the Makkahan era for the purpose of addressing its people and inviting them to pledge allegiance to the new religion of Islam. The people had in no way been hospitable and in fact the dissolute youth of the city

had wounded him by pelting him with stones. They had chased him as he was bleeding from the injuries caused by them. Exhausted and spent he had been forced to take refuge and rest in a garden. Seeing this heartrending spectacle -Messenger of Allah bleeding and worn out - the angels of the mountains had asked for his permission to crush and grind the city and its inhabitants between two mountains of the valley.

But the Prophet 38 had denied permission and said that he was not in favour of destroying and ruining the people of Tai’f since he hoped that their future generations would accept Islam. It is an irony of fate and a twist of fortunes that the very same True Prophet 3¢ who had left the city bleeding and helpless, was now back as the Commanderin-Chief of a huge force to overpower with his majesty the Banu Hawazan and the other tribes who were its sworn friends. In spite of the fact that he was injured Khalid bin Waleed 4 was appointed General of the Banu Saleem. When the Banu Hawazan saw the grandeur and majesty of the tremendous Muslim army, the Banu Thageef and they fled into their fort. The Mujahideen besieged the fort. Emotionally charged with the passion for filiad, Khalid bin Waleed .4% kept calling out continuously to the enemy to come out and meet the challenge. But none of them had the courage to come out and face him. And they had collected so much food and water that they could have easily lived in the fort fora year. Seeing these conditions, Abu Bakr Siddiq -S advised that the siege be called off. The Prophet 38 approved of this idea and the siege was finally lifted after eighteen days. Soon after this the Banu Hawazan and the Banu Thageef accepted Islam. During this encounter Khalid bin Waleed -% by his challenges to the enemy gave ample proof of his courage, faith and devotion to Islam. Doubtless these are the qualities of a good General.

The tribe of Banu Mastalaq was a branch of the Banu Khaza’a. The people of this tribe had accepted Islam in the fifth or sixth Hijrah. The Prophet 38 sent a representative to collect zakah or the poor due from them. When he reached there the leaders of the tribe came to the outskirts of the city to welcome them. When the representative saw these people approaching him, he panicked. He thought they were going to kill him, and turned around and fled. At Al-Madinah he told

the Prophet 3% that the Banu Mastalag had refused to pay zakah. And this news stunned the Prophet 38. Before engaging in a war with them directly he thought it was better to send Khalid bin Waleed .# at the head of a delegation to ascertain the truth of the matter. His selection of Khalid bin Waleed % was based on his qualities of valour, wisdom and his perceptive understanding and foresight.

He advised Khalid bin Waleed % against being hasty and taking any emotional decision on the spur of the moment. He warned him that patience and forbearance were the need of the moment.

Khalid bin Waleed reached the city of the Banu Mastalaq in the middle of the night. To understand and assess the situation and get the facts right, he sent out some of his comrades in disguise. They came back and reported that the people were certainly Muslims as they had themselves seen them attending the Fajr (dawn) prayers in the mosques, of which there were quite a few in the city. The call to prayers was also given regularly from the mosques. He was very happy to hear this and felt at peace regarding the citizens and their wellbeing. When the sun had risen high, he himself went into the city and met the chieftains of the tribe and asked them why they had not paid the Zakét to the representative of the Prophet 38. They stated the facts of the case. They said they had gone to the city outskirts to greet him, but without meeting them he had suddenly turned round and fled. They said they themselves were very upset and surprised and they had already sent a delegation to meet the Prophet 38 and inform him regarding what had occurred. Khalid bin Waleed < himself was very astonished to hear this, and left having satisfied him that all was well with the religious beliefs and faith of these people. Upon reaching Al{-Madinah he informed the Prophet 38 regarding what had actually taken place; he said these people of Banu Mastalaq were blameless and had not refused to pay Zakét. The representative had given a totally incorrect picture of the situation. Allah Almighty revealed the following Verse on this occasion:

“O you who believe! If a Fasig (liar evil person) comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” (49:6)

What is worthy of note is that when the incident of the Banu Mastalaq refusing to pay zakah and getting ready for war against the Muslims was reported wrongly, the person the Prophet 3% entrusted with the task of resolving the issue was Khalid bin Waleed .é. It shows the trust the Prophet 3& had in his ability to utilize his God-given gifts of intelligence and wisdom and in his ability to arrive at a farsighted and courageous decision. He had advised his General to be calm and patient because he felt that Khalid bin Waleed # might get enraged, act in haste and God forbid, cause irreparable damage. This had been the case with the Banu Khazeema.

Khalid bin Waleed # came back triumphant from this war. His majesty and power were such that the enemy used to start trembling when they heard his name. The Muslims, on the other hand, gained strength from having him among them. Under his leadership they gained victories and triumphs whichever way they turned, and the flag of Islam flew high in many countries. The power and might of the empires of Rome and Persia was laid low. No doubt Khalid bin Waleed -# was in a very exalted and lofty position.

Tabuk is a valley about six hundred and eighty-six miles north of AlMadinah. In the intense heat of the year 9 Hijrah, the Prophet 38 after an arduous journey over difficult terrain, reached there commanding an army of thirty thousand Muslim Mujahideen. He saw that in this land where water was scarce, a tiny bit of water was oozing. He ordered that some water should be collected in a small vessel for his ablution. He then washed his face and hands, and the rest of the water he threw back into the place from where the water was oozing out. The moment the water was thrown by him, a stream of water came gushing out with a thunderous sound. The Mujalideen had felt as if their bodies were cracking under the strain and the severe heat. At such a time to find a plentiful supply of water was a blessing. The whole army drank their fill, gained strength, and offered there thanks to Allah 3%. The Prophet 38 told Mua’éz bin Jabl:

“If he lived long enough he would see many fertile and green gardens at that spot.”

His prophecy turned out to be true, word for word. The miraculous stream gave plenitude and fertility to the land, and even today this is one of the greenest and most fertile of areas, serene and soothing to the eyes. The stream made Tabuk one of the most beautiful place still flows continuously. It is now known as the Fountain of Tabuk, and people visit this historic site to see the stream and enjoy themselves.

The Prophet 3 had marched Tabuk at the head of an army asa trading caravan from Syria had informed him that the Emperor of Rome was making elaborate preparations to invade Al-Madinah. Many Arab tribes had joined hands with him to wipe out the Muslims from the face of the earth. In fact, they reported, he had already set out for Al-Madinah and his advance guard had reached the border area of Balga, in Syria. The Prophet 38 immediately ordered the Companions to prepare for Jihad. Since it was summer and it was to be a very long journey, he ordered that a lot of luggage and food should be prepared to be carried along for the journey. He wanted immediate action in order to stop the enemy at the earliest in his own territory. Among the thirty thousand troops of the Muslim army was ten thousand cavalry. Khalid bin Waleed was made Commander of the advance guard. Talhah bin “Abaidullah 3 was the Commander of the right wing, and ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf. was the Commander of the left wing. The Muslim army camped at Tabuk for twenty days, but the Roman army did not dare to come out and face them. Emperor Harqul of Rome sent his spies to find out the strength of the Muslim army and the extent of its preparedness and organization. What he heard frightened him and he thought it best to turn back with his troops. Though no actual fighting took place at Tabuk, two great advantages were gained.