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So let the breeze of victory blow! Let it blow strong, mighty, And victorious!
* * *
Khaalid's ingenuity impressed the Roman officers and commanders so much so that Jerjah, a
Roman commander, asked Khaalid to show himself during a rest in the fighting. When they met, the
Roman commander asked him, "Khaalid, tell me the truth and do not lie, for the freeman doesn't lie. Did
Allah send down on your Prophet a heavenly sword and he gave it to you, so that it enables you to kill
anyone who comes within its sweep?" Khaalid answered, "No." The man exclaimed, "Then why do they
call you the Sword of Allah?" Khaalid explained, "Allah sent His Prophet to us. Some of us believed in
him and others disbelieved in him. I was among the disbelievers until Allah guided my heart to Islam and
to His Prophet (PBUH) and I gave him my allegiance. Therefore, the Prophet supplicated Allah for me
and said, `You are the Sword of Allah."' The Roman commander asked, "What do you invite people to?"
Khaalid answered, "We invite people to monotheism and to Islam." He asked, "Does anyone who
submits himself to Islam have the same reward as you?" Khaalid answered, " Yes, and even better."
Jerjah exclaimed, "How, when you embraced Islam before he did?"
Khaalid answered, "We lived with the Prophet and saw with our own eyes his signs and miracles.
Now anyone who had the chance to see what we saw and hear what we heard was expected to submit
himself to Islam sooner or later. As for you who did not see or hear him, if despite this you believe in
him and in the unseen, you will find better and greater reward if you purify your conscience and
intentions to Allah."
The Roman commander cried out as he urged his horse closer to Khaalid and stood next to him,
"Please, Khaalid, teach me Islam!" He submitted himself to Islam and prayed two rak'ahs. Soon, combat
erupted and once again, the Roman Jerjah fought, but this time on the Muslim side until he won
martyrdom.
Now, let us watch closely how human greatness was manifested in one of its most remarkable
scenes. The first version narrated by the historian said that while Khaalid was commanding the Muslim
army in this bloody and crucial war and wresting victory out of the claws of the Romans with admirable
master strokes, the new caliph, `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, Commander of the Faithful, dispatched a
message to him in which he saluted the Muslim army and announced the sad news of Abu Bakr's death
(May Allah be pleased with him). Then he ordered Khaalid to give up his command to Abu `Ubaidah Ibn
Al-jarraah. Khaalid read the message and supplicated Allah to have mercy on Abu Bakr and bestow His
guidance on `Umar. Then he strictly ordered the messenger not to tell anyone about the purport of the
message and not to leave his place or communicate with anyone.
Then Khaalid resumed his command of the combat and concealed the news of Abu Bakr's death and
`Umar's orders until they had achieved victory. Finally, the hour of victory came and the Romans were
defeated.
It was only then that the hero approached Abu `Ubaidah and saluted him. At first, Abu `Ubaidah
thought that he did so in jest, yet he soon realized how serious and true this news was. Instantly, he
kissed Khaalid between his eyes and praised his greatness.
The second version of the same incident is that the message was sent to Abu 'Ubaidah, who
concealed the news from Khaalid until the burden of war was over. Which of the two versions is
authentic is not our concern here. The only thing that interests us here is Khaalid's conduct, which was
superb in both versions.
I cannot think of a situation in which Khaalid manifested more loyalty and sincerity than this one. It
did not matter to him whether he was a commander or a soldier. Both ranks were one and the same to
him as long as they enabled him to carry out his duties towards Allah Whom he believed in, the Prophet
(PBUH) whom he gave allegiance to, and, finally, towards the religion which he embraced. This great
self-control of Khaalid and of other Muslims was not possible without the help and guidance of the