The battle field of Syria. Khalid is the chief commander of Muslim forces in Syria. Shaddad Ibn Aus arrived from Medina with a letter from caliph Umar (may Allah be with him). The letter says the end of Khalid’s leadership and appointing Abu Ubaida as the new commander in chief. It is in the Muslim tent. All soldiers and commanders are present. Shaddad, messenger of caliph Umar, announced the discharging of Khalid and named Abu Ubaida as the new commander. It was pin-drop silence all around. Khalid himself also heard the announcement quite silently. And walked back into the rows of ordinary soldiers. Abu Ubaida moved forward to replace his position.
Khalid, once commander in chief, got himself dissolved into the crowd of common soldiers. Did the discharge infused rage in Khalid? Did the decision turned his face violent in anger? Or did it bring tears in his eyes? No, nothing such happened to him. His sun-burnt red face, caused by frequent travelling around Syrian deserts, remained bright with the same smile, with the same soft divine glow that existed before. His head bowed down momentarily to accept the caliph’s order. The very next moment, it was raised back to its unbend position of honor where it does not indulge any shame or dishonor, neither it is touched by the pain of sorrow. Standing right in the back row, he proclaimed, “I would accept the order of the caliph and would continue jihad even if he would appoint some black slave as my leader; whereas Abu Ubaida is so honorable.”
Does the degradation cause any possible slack in Hazrat Khaled? Did he lose his spontaneity and speed? No, neither happened. The very next moment of his discharge, following the order of Abu Ubaida, Khalid joined Abdullah Ibn Jafar in a battle field, fought courageously and won.
History can replace no such example of obedience, pure intention and dedicated soul. A commander, who occupied countries after countries and achieved unconditional love and obedience of his soldiers, has accepted his discharge without any hesitation, has joined with ordinary soldiers and fought with the same dedication he had before. Such example of showing honor to leadership and military system is unprecedented, astonishing! But not that much astonishing in Islamic history, not for Muslims either, who fight only for Allah, not for property, honor or position.
Translated by Haidar Saif