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Finally, the body of the hero left his home carried on the shoulders of his companions. The

deceased's mother took one last look at the hero, her eyes full of determination tinged with sadness as she

commended him to Allah's protection and said, `there are far, far better than a thousand men who flung

themselves into the battlefield. Do you ask me about his valor? He was much more courageous than a

huge lion that protects its cubs in the time of danger. Do you ask me about his generosity? He was far

more generous than an overwhelming torrential rain that slides down from the mountains!" `Umar's heart

throbbed and his eyes flowed with tears when he heard her recite these lines of poetry: "You spoke the

truth. By Allah, he was everything you said he was."

The hero was buried. His companions stood at his grave in reverence. They felt that the whole

universe was so peaceful, humble, and silent that it seemed as if the whole world went into mourning.

I imagine that this awesome stillness was broken only by the neighing of a horse that tugged at its

halter and went to its master's grave guided by his scent. As if reached the silent congregation and the

moist grave, it shook its bead and neighed sharply as it used to do when the hero was on its back

devastating the thrones of Persia and Rome, curing the delusions of paganism and oppression, and

eliminating the powers of backwardness and disbelief to pave the way for Islam. As it fixed its eyes on

the grave, it kept on raising and lowering its head as if it were bidding its last farewell to its master and

hero. Then it stood still with its head raised, yet its eyes flowed with tears. khaalid bequeathed it along

with his weapons to `Umar in the way of Allah. Yet who is valiant and great enough to deserve to mount

it after Khaalid?

Alas, you hero of all victory, the dawn of all nights. You soared with your army above the horrors

of war when you said to your soldiers, "The darkest hour is that before dawn." This became a saying

afterwards.

May Allah bless your morning, Abu Sulaimaan. May Allah bestow glory, praise, and eternity on

you, khaalid.

Let us now repeat after `Umar the Commander of the Faithful. The sweet elegy with which he paid his

last farewell to Khaalid: "May Allah have mercy on you, Abu Sulaimaan. What you have now is far

better than what you had in life, for you are now with Allah. You were honored in life and content in

death."