Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 196
196 so far because we were better equipped than the enemy in men or material. Our mainstay was our faith. If the enemy is so many times superior to us in numbers or equipment, what does it matter? One reward out of two we must have. We either win, or die as martyrs in the way of God. " The army heard bin Rawahah and was much impressed. He was right, they said, with one voice. The army marched on. As they marched, they saw the Roman army advancing towards them. So at Mu’tah the Muslims took up their positions and the battle began. Soon Zayd, the Muslim commander, was killed and the Prophet’s cousin Ja‘far bin Abi Talib received the standard and the command of the army. When he saw that enemy pressure was increasing and Muslims, because of utter physical inferiority, were not holding their own he dismounted from his horse and cut its legs. The action meant that at least he was not going to flee; he would prefer death to flight. To cut the legs of one’s mount was an Arab custom to prevent stampede and panic. Ja‘far lost his right hand, but held the standard in his left. He lost his left hand also and then held the standard between the two stumps pressed to his chest. True to his promise, he fell down fighting. Then ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah, as the Prophet had ordered, grasped the standard and took over the command. He also fell fighting. The order of the Prophet now was for Muslims to take counsel together and elect a commander. But there was no time to hold an election. The Muslims might well have yielded to the vastly superior numbers of the enemy. But Khalid bin Walid, accepting the suggestion of a friend, took the standard and went on fighting until evening came. The following day Khalid took the field again with his crippled and tired force but employed a stratagem. He changed the positions of his men—those in front changed with those in the rear and those on the right flank changed with those on the left. They also raised some slogans. The enemy thought Muslims had received reinforcements overnight and withdrew in fear. Khalid saved his remnants and returned. The Prophet had been informed of these events through a revelation. He collected the Muslims in the mosque. As he rose to address them his eyes were wet with tears. He said: I wish to tell you about the army which left here for the Syrian border. It stood against the enemy and fought. First Zayd, then Ja‘far and then ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah held the standard. All three fell, one after the other, fighting bravely. Pray for them all. After them the standard was held by Khalid bin Walid. He appointed himself. He is a sword among the swords of God. So he saved the Muslim army and returned. 225 The Prophet’s description of Khalid became popular. Khalid came to be known as 'the sword of God'. Being one of the later converts, Khalid was often taunted by other Muslims. Once he and ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf quarrelled over something. ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf reported against Khalid to the Prophet. The Prophet chid Khalid and said,