The
Expedition to Mu'tah
Among the letters written by the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) to the different
monarchs, one was addressed to the ruler of Busra and was sent through Hârith
bin Umair Azdi (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
On the way to Busra, Hârith (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
had just reached Mu'tah lying on the border of Syria, when Shurahbil bin Amr
Ghassâni, a deputy of the Byzantine Emperor held him. When he came to know that
the captive was the envoy of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) and was carrying a letter from him, he lost his temper and
killed him. This tragic news sent the Muslims into a state of outrage. The
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) lost no time in
sending an expedition of three thousand soldiers under the command of Zaid bin
Hâritha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). He instructed them
that if Zaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
were killed then Ja'far bin Abu Tâlib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) should take the command. If Ja'far (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) were also slain then the command would pass on to Abdullah bin
Rawâhah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), and in case of his
falling the Muslims were at liberty to choose anyone as their commander. The
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) escorted the army
for a distance and then returned to Al-Madinah.
Zaid bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) led his force to Ma'ân where he found out
that Shurahbil bin Amr, the ruler of Mu'tah was present at Balqâ' with a
hundred thousand Roman troops. This news sent a wave of anxiety into the hearts
of the Muslim troops, which were halted at Ma'ân holding consultations about
dealing with the new developments. The deliberation were going on when Abdullah
bin Rawâhah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
gave a call at the top of his voice:
"Men, you have come out in
quest of martyrdom. We do not fight the enemy on the strength of our numbers,
or our power; we fight them with the religion we have been honored with by
Allâh. Thus advance towards Mu'tah and the army of Heraclius. Keep your right
and left wings in order. Come on, we shall be winners both ways; either we win
or we gain martyrdom."
In response to Abdullah bin
Rawâhah's inspiring speech, Zaid bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) got up with lance in one hand and the standard in the other.
And with him rose the entire Muslim army filled with a new spirit and
enthusiasm. The Muslim troops moved ahead from Ma'ân and chose a vast field in
Mu'tah to give battle. Both the armies stood face to face, three thousand
Muslims against one hundred thousand enemy soldiers armed to the teeth. The
Muslim army had with them Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) for the first time and he had his first opportunity to test his
sword on behalf of Islam. Moreover, it was the first battle between the Muslims
and the Christians, Zaid bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) was moving ahead of all with the standard of Islam firmly in
his hand. The right wing was led by Qutbah bin Qatâdah Udhri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), while the left wing was under the charge
of Abâyah bin Mâlik Ansâri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
Zaid bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) descended on the army and died fighting
bravely with innumerable wounds on his body. The standard was now taken in hand
by Ja'far (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) who led the fight.
When the battle became confined, he jumped off his charger and hamstrung its
forelegs and fought until he lost his right hand. He took the standard in his
left hand but when it was also cut off, he kept the standard flying with the
support of his neck. At last, he fell dead on the battlefield. The standard was
then held aloft by Abdullah bin Rawâhah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). He too dismounted from his horse and pressed onwards. He also
was granted martyrdom after killing a number of enemy soldiers. After his exit
from the battle scene the Muslims were subdued by a sense of anxiety. But
Thâbit bin Aqram (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
sprang forward and gave a call by lifting the standard: "O Muslims! Unite
to choose a man to lead you." The Muslim troops raised their voice:
"We agree on your leadership." Thereupon Thâbit bin Aqram (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said, "I am not
fit for the job; choose Khâlid bin Walid as your leader." "We agree
on Khâlid bin Walid," the people confirmed in one voice.
Hearing this Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) swung into action
and took the standard from the hand of Thâbit bin Aqram (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Now the Muslim troops rallied round him
with new zeal. Khâlid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
infused in their hearts a new spirit of do or die. And along with this he
launched such successive attacks on all sides that the enemy soldiers were left
unnerved. Not only did Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) fight gallantly, he also led his army to show its mettle in
the battlefield. He displayed his genius as a military commander and kept the
entire military in full control with extraordinary skill. He moved ahead and
drew back the right and the left wings according to the demand of the battle.
Despite superiority of numbers, the enemy troops did not prove a match for the
Muslim army of far less numbers and weaponry. Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) looked like a flash
of lightning throughout the battlefield. The whole day he led his three
thousand men against the large army of one hundred thousand. By the evening the
Romans escaped leaving behind booty and corpses.
Khâlid
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) — Saifullâh
His instinct for leadership and
military skill was acclaimed by everyone and he has received the title of the
"Sword of Allâh" from Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). The same day that the fighters in the
cause of Islam were engaged in giving battle, hundreds of miles away, the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) ascended the pulpit
to tell the Muslims: "The Muslim troops took on the enemy. Zaid gained
martyrdom and Allâh forgave him then Ja'far took the standard in his hand and
was surrounded by the enemies, with the result that he was honored with
martyrdom, and Allâh forgave him too. Following this, Abdullah bin Rawâhah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) took the standard of
Islam in his hand and fell down martyred. They were all lifted to Paradise.
After these three, Khâlid bin Walid, the sword among the swords of Allâh took
the standard in his hand and set the matter right."
From that day on, Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to be called
Saifullâh (the Sword of Allâh). As the sad news broke out, the household of
Ja'far (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was subdued with
grief. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
sent a meal to Ja'far's house. When Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reached near Al-Madinah along with his troops, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) came out of
Al-Madinah to greet them and gave Khâlid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) the glad tidings of the title of 'the Sword of Allâh'. One of
the Companions saw in a dream Ja'far (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) flying in Paradise with two wings. From that day he was called
Ja'far Tayyâr—'Ja'far, the flier'. As per one narrative, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) once said,
"Allâh the Almighty has conferred two wings on Ja'far with which he keeps
flying in heaven." The battle of Mu'tah was fought in Jumâda Al-Ula, 8 AH.
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