Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
16. The Companions of the Prophet
~ 401 ~
NOT BEARING GRUDGES
Khalid ibn al-Walid was an extremely brave and
able soldier, who remained commander of the
Muslim army in Syria from the time of the Prophet
right throughout the caliphate of Abu Bakr. ‘Umar,
however, disapproved of some of Khalid’s habits,
and asked Abu Bakr to remove him from his
command. Abu Bakr did not act on ‘Umar’s advice,
but ‘Umar was so set in his opinion that, on
becoming Caliph, he dismissed Khalid. The
commander of the Muslim army was demoted to
the rank of an ordinary soldier.
When the order came, Khalid was laying all low
before him as the Muslims’ triumphant march
through Syria continued. All of a sudden came the
news of his dismissal, and the appointment of Abu
‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah in his place. The news
shocked Khalid’s army, and a group of soldiers
gathered in their leader’s tent. They assured him of
their support, and urged him to defy the Caliph’s
orders. Khalid sent them away, telling them that he
did not fight for ‘Umar’s cause; he fought for the
cause of ‘Umar’s Lord. Before he had fought as
