Author: Zaid
The Biography of the Sword of Allah Khalid bin Walid, “MAPH” (Part 17)
The Role of Khalid in Wadi Hanin
The trust that the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had placed in Hazrat Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, is truly enviable to others. In many fields of jihad and struggle, the Prophet (peace be upon him) positioned him either at the forefront of the army or on his right side. For instance, in this 12,000-man raid, Hazrat Khalid was at the vanguard of the Islamic army, and the responsibility of the horsemen of Bani Salim also fell on his shoulders. He possessed a profound understanding of strategy and tactics, knowing precisely when to advance, retreat, and employ specific maneuvers.
As the Islamic army reached Wadi Hanin, a sense of complacency set in, with the belief that their superior numbers would guarantee an effortless victory. However, Hawazen and the infidels had already devised a cunning plan to entrap the Muslims; Therefore, as soon as they arrived, they were attacked from every corner and trapped the Muslims in many places. A number of the people of Makkah who had joined the army of Islam from the city of Makkah fled and left. All the plans of the Muslims were disrupted, and everyone was in a strange surprise and confusion.
Allama Shalabi, (may Allah have mercy on him), writes: “When Hazrat Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, sees this scene where the Mujahideen are fleeing from one side, and from the other side, no order is issued by the Holy Prophet, (PBUH).” Therefore, he decided to withdraw the horsemen as quickly as possible and think of a solution once again; Therefore, the entourage of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) will be empty and no one will remain except for the Ahl al-Bayt, a few people from the Mohajirin and some from the Ansar. Apparently, the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him, was in a very sensitive and critical state, and the Muslims should not have left him and distanced themselves from him. As Allah the Exalted depicts this event in the Holy Quran and informs Muslims that one should never be proud of one’s dignity and trust; Rather, one should always trust and trust in Allah Almighty and they say: «لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنْكُمْ شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُمْ مُدْبِرِينَ».
It means: (Surely Allah Almighty has helped you in many cases and he helped you on the day of Hanin too, when the multitude of people surprised you, but this multitude and shock did not remove any danger from you, besides Because of that, the land became narrow for you with its width and as a result you turned your back on the enemy and started to run away.)
After that, Hazrat Khalid returned with the horse riders and some of the people who had escaped also came to the Holy Prophet of Islam.
This time, Hazrat Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, looked at the enemy with a different anger, and he turned towards the enemy with complete seriousness, and no one survived under his sword. This time he will make up for the backwardness and leaving the beloved of hearts, Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings be upon him, and he will not rest until he defeats “Hawazen” and his allies. Therefore, he fought so much that he could hardly defeat the infidels and shift the advantage of the war to the Muslims. Even he suffered many wounds in this war, and it caused him pain and suffering, and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was saddened by his injury and went to visit him.
The decline of peace in the time of war
Then Allah revealed this blessed verse: «ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ جُنُودًا لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ. (Then [after the Muslims returned and defeated the infidels] Allah Almighty sent down peace and tranquility on His Prophet and all the believers and [in that war] sent armies that you did not see and punished those who disbelieved and that is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Then Allah, (S.W.T), turns to whomever he wills (those who returned after retreating and fought fiercely at the feet of the Prophet, PBUH, and Allah, “s.w.t”, is Most Forgiving and Merciful.) After that, the war ended, and the Muslims returned with Peace and tranquility.
From this short incident, we learn how much courage and zeal Hazrat Khalid showed as if he takes a wound from one side and attacks the enemy with anger and rage from the other side and tears them from their knees.
It is a great virtue for Hazrat Khalid that Allah Almighty describes this campaign in His Holy Word and praises Khalid’s bravery and bestows good news, forgiveness and mercy on him and his companions.
