107 / 255
More info and Downloads at
gawaher.comPage 107 of 255
The Prophet (PBUH) married his cousin Zainab to Zaid. It seems that Zainab (May Allah be pleased
with her) accepted that marriage becaher shyness prevented her from turning down the Prophet's
intercession. Unfortunately, the gap between them widened every day, and finally their marriage
collapsed. The Prophet (PBUH) felt that he was , in a way, responsible for this marriage which ended up
in divorce; therefore, he married his cousin and chose a new wife, Umm Kulthuum Bent `Uqbah for
Zaid. The slanderers and the enemies of the Prophet spread doubt concerning the legality of
Muhammad's marriage to his son's ex-wife. The Qur'aan refuted their claims by striking a distinction
between sons and adopted sons. It abrogated adoption altogether saying: "Mohammed is not a father of
any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets " (33:90). Hence, Zaid
was called after his father's name once again, namely, Zaid Ibn Haarithah.
Now, do you see the Muslim troops that marched towards the Battle of Al-Jumuuh? Their
commander was Zaid Ibn Haarithah Do you see those Muslims troops that marched to At- Tarf, Al-'Iis
and Hismii and other battles? The commander of all those battles was Zaid Ibn Haarithah. Truly, as
Aa'ishah May Allah be pleased with her) said, `The Prophet never sent Zaid on as expedition but as a
commander.
At last, the Battle of Mu'tah took place. It seems that the Romans and their senescent empire were
filled with apprehensions and forebodings about the rapid spread of Islam. They saw it as a genuine and
fatal threat to their very existence, especially in Syria, which bordered the center of the new, sweeping
religion. Therefore, they used Syria as a springboard to the Arab Peninsula and the Muslim nation.
The Prophet (PBUH) realized that the aim of the Roman skirmishes was to test the Muslim combat
readiness. Therefore, he decided to take the initiative and exhibit in action Islam's determination to resist
and to gain ultimate victory. On 1 Jumaadii A.H. 8, the Muslim army marched towards Al-Balqaa' in
Syria until they reached its borders where Heraclius's armies of the Romans and Arabicized tribes
residing at the borders were. The Roman army pitched camp at a place called Mashaarif, whereas the
Muslim army pitched camp near a town called Mu'tah. Hence, the battle was named Mu'tah.
The Prophet (PBUH) knew how important and crucial this battle was; therefore he chose for its
command three of those who were worshippers by night and fighters by day. Those three fighters sold
their lives and property to Allah and renounced their needs and desires for the sake of great martyrdom
which would pave their way to win Allah's pleasure and to see Allah, the Generous. These three
commanders were in succession: Zaid Ibn Haarithah, Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib and Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah.
(May Allah be pleased with them and they with Him, and may Allah be pleased with all the
Companions.) Thus, the Prophet (PBUH) stood to bid farewell to his army and gave them his order
saying, "Zaid Ibn Haarithah is your first commander, but in case he is wounded, Ja`far lbn Abi Taalib
will take over the command, and if he is also wounded, `Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah will take it over.
Although Ja'far lbn Abi Taalib was one of the Prophet's closest friends who had valor, fearlessness, and
good lineage, yet the Prophet chose him as the second commander after Zaid. Thus, the Prophet (PBUH)
stressed the fact that the new religion of Islam came to abolish corrupt human relationships based on
false and superficial discrimination. It established new, rational human relationships instead.
It was as if the Prophet foresaw the proceedings of the imminent battle, for he assigned the command
of the army to Zaid, Ja'far, and then `Abd Allah and strangely enough, all of them were raised to Allah in
the same order set by him. When the Muslims saw the vanguard of the Roman army, which they had
estimated at 200,000 warriors, they were stunned by its enormity that surpassed all expectation. But since
when did the battles of faith depend on number? At that moment, the Muslims flung themselves into the
battlefield regardless of the consequences or jeopardy. Their commander, Zaid, carried the Prophet's
standard and fought his way through the enemy's spears, arrows, and swords. He was not so much
searching for victory as for concluding his deal with Allah, Who has purchased the lives and properties
of Muslims in exchange for Paradise.
Zaid saw neither the sand of Al-Balqaa' nor the Roman forces. The only things that he saw were the
hills of Paradise and its green cushions. These images flickered through his mind like the fluttering flags
that had announced his wedding day. When he thrust and struck, he not only smote at the necks of his