The Sword of Allah
As soon as Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه took hold of the flag, he launched a powerful attack against the enemy. In this way, the tide of the battle turned in favor of the Companions رضي الله عنهم. The Muslims struck fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, and they began avoiding further fighting.
After achieving this level of success through mutual consultation, the Companions رضي الله عنهم decided to return.
As soon as Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه became the commander of the army, he moved the front part of the army to the rear and brought the rear part to the front. Similarly, he moved the right side to the left and the left side to the right. In this way, he completely changed the formation of the entire army.
When the Muslims came face-to-face with the Romans, the Romans saw new people on every side. Thus, they thought that reinforcements had arrived for the Muslims.
The battle had continued for seven consecutive days.
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله narrated from Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه that during the Battle of Mu’tah, nine swords broke in his hand, and only one Yemeni sword remained. He continued fighting with that sword until the end.
While this battle was taking place at Mu’tah, what was happening in Madinah Munawwarah?
The scene there was that Allah Almighty informed the Noble Prophet ﷺ of everything that was happening. The Prophet ﷺ called the Companions رضي الله عنهم to Masjid an-Nabawi to tell them the news of the battle and himself sat upon the pulpit.
At that time, tears were in the eyes of the Prophet ﷺ. He began to tell them:
“People! The door of goodness… the door of goodness… the door of goodness has been opened.
I will tell you about your army. I will tell you about those warriors. They departed from here and continued onward until they encountered the enemy. Zayd ibn Harithah was martyred, so pray for his forgiveness.
Then Ja‘far took the flag and fought with great steadfastness until he too was martyred. Pray for his forgiveness as well.
Then ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the flag, and he too was martyred.
Then Khalid ibn al-Walid took the flag. He was not the commander of the army; he was simply the commander of himself… but he is one of the swords of Allah.
Therefore, Allah’s help is ready. Allah Almighty has unsheathed this sword against the disbelievers, and Allah Almighty has granted victory over the enemy.”
After this, the Noble Messenger ﷺ prayed for Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه:
“O Allah! He is one of Your swords, so help him.”
From that very day, Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه came to be known as Sayfullah — the Sword of Allah.
Hazrat Asma bint ‘Umais رضي الله عنها was the wife of Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه.
On the day when Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه and his companions were martyred in this battle, the Noble Prophet ﷺ came to their house and said:
“Bring Ja‘far’s children to me.”
Hazrat Asma رضي الله عنها brought the children to him. The Noble Messenger ﷺ began showing affection to them while also weeping. He continued weeping until his blessed beard became wet with tears.
Hazrat Asma رضي الله عنها was surprised and asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you. Why are you crying? Has some news arrived concerning Ja‘far and his companions?”
In reply, the Noble Messenger ﷺ said:
“Yes! He and his companions were martyred today.”
She immediately stood up and began to weep.
Here, it is worth considering that at that time Hazrat Ja‘far and his companions were fighting far away from Madinah Munawwarah, in the land of Syria, and there was no means by which news could have reached Madinah from there.
Obviously, Allah Almighty had informed the Noble Messenger ﷺ of the news through revelation.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw Hazrat Asma weeping loudly, he said:
“O Asma! One should neither wail nor lament.”
Soon, women gathered there. They too began crying and started wailing and mourning after hearing the news.
Someone came and informed the Noble Messenger ﷺ:
“The women are mourning and wailing greatly.”
The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“Go and make them quiet.”
He went and soon returned, saying:
“O Messenger of Allah! They are not becoming quiet.”
The Noble Messenger ﷺ said:
“Go and try to make them quiet, and if they do not listen, throw dust into their mouths.”
After this, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for the children of Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه:
“O Allah! Ja‘far has become deserving of the best reward, so make his children his best successors.”
After this, the Prophet ﷺ returned from there and said to his family:
“Do not become neglectful of Ja‘far’s wife and children. They are extremely grief-stricken today. Prepare food for them and send it to them.”
Regarding Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah Almighty has given Ja‘far two wings in place of his two arms. Through them, he flies about in Paradise.”
Hazrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما says that Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه had ninety wounds on his body, between his chest and shoulders. These were caused by swords and spears.
Hazrat Ja‘far رضي الله عنه was also fasting that day.
Hazrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما says:
“I reached Hazrat Ja‘far in the evening. He was lying in the battlefield, covered with wounds. I offered him water, but he said:
‘I am fasting. Place this water near my mouth. If I remain alive until sunset, I will break my fast with this water.’
Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما says that he was martyred before the sun set.
Hazrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates:
“Once we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Suddenly, he raised his face toward the sky and said:
‘Wa ‘alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi.’
The people asked:
‘O Messenger of Allah! Why did you say this?’
In reply, he ﷺ said:
‘Just now, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib passed by me among a group of angels. He had greeted me.’”
When the army returning from the Battle of Mu’tah approached Madinah Munawwarah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims met them there.
The children of the city welcomed them by reciting verses.
At that time, the Prophet ﷺ was approaching on his mount. When he saw the children, he said:
“Lift them up and seat them on the riding animals, and seat Ja‘far’s children behind me.”
And so it was done.
In this way, the army entered Madinah Munawwarah.
To confront three hundred thousand enemies with only three thousand Companions, to inflict great losses upon the enemy, and then to return safely to Madinah Munawwarah was a tremendous achievement.
No amount of happiness at such a great success could have been too much.
After this battle, Makkah was conquered.
This battle took place in Ramadan, 8 AH.
The agreement that had been made between the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Quraysh at Hudaybiyyah also contained a condition that any Arab tribe could join the treaty on the side of either of the two parties.
That is, if any tribe wished to join the agreement on the side of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it could do so. In that case, it would be bound by the same conditions by which Quraysh were bound.
According to this condition, the tribe of Banu Bakr joined the treaty on the side of Quraysh, while the tribe of Banu Khuza‘ah joined it on the side of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There had already been a very old enmity between these two tribes. Considerable bloodshed had taken place between them, and claims of blood revenge were still outstanding.
However, the coming of Islam had suppressed these old enmities.
Now what happened was that a man from Banu Bakr composed insulting poetry about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and began reciting it.
A young man from Banu Khuza‘ah heard these verses. He caught the man from Banu Bakr and struck him, causing him injury.
As a result, the two tribes rose against one another, because their old enmity had already been continuing for a long time.