The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHIR 333
Al-Bukhai stated that Aha Nu'aym related to him, quoting Sufyan, from
Ismacil, from Qays b. Abii H%im, who said, "I heard Khaid b. al-Walid say, 'At
the battle of Mu'ta, nine swords were broken in my hand; I finally held only
a Yemeni broad-sword."'
He then narrated it from Muhammad b. al-Muthanna, from Yahya, from
Ismacil, who quoted Qays as having said, "I heard Khalid b. al-Walid say, 'At the
battle of Mu'ta, nine swords were broken in my hand; a Yemeni broad-sword
was left in my hand.'"
Al-Bukhari is alone in giving this hadith.
The ha& Abii Bakr al-Bayhaqi stated that Abii Na~r h. Qamda related to him,
quoting Abii 'Amr Matar, quoting Abii Khalifa al-Fad1 h. al-Habab al-Jum&i,
quoting Sulaym&n b. Harb, quoting al-Aswad b. Shayban, from Khalid b. Samir,
who said, "'Abd Allah h. Rabah al-An@ri came to us; the an@r themselves
would ask him for legal opinions. The people swamped him; I was among them
as they did so. He said, 'Abii Qatada, the horseman of the Messenger of God
(SAAS), sent out the jaysh al-'umarii', the "army of the commanders", saying,
"Zayd b. Haitha will command. If he should he struck down, then Ja'far will
command. If Ja'far is struck down, then 'Abd AllXh b. Rawaha will command."
Jacfar jumped up and said, "Messenger of God, I didn't want you to appoint
Zayd over me!" He replied, "Go forth; you do not know which would be better."
"'They did leave, staying only for as long as God wished. The Messenger of
God (SAAS) (later) mounted the mmbar, gave an order and the summons was
announced, "A full prayer assembly!" People gathered around the Messenger of
God (SAAS), and he then said, "I will give you news of this army of yours. They
have gone forth and encountered the enemy. Zayd has been martyred." He then
prayed for forgiveness for Zayd. He went on, "Then Ja'far took the banner and
he charged the enemy and was eventually martyred." He then bore witness that
Jacfar had attained martyrdom and sought forgiveness for him. He went on, "'Abd
Allah h. Rawaha then took the banner and planted his feet firmly until he was
martyred." He prayed for forgiveness for 'Abd Allah. He went on, "Then Khalid
b. al-Walid took the banner; he was not one of the (appointed) commanders, but
took command himself." The Messenger of God (SAAS) then said, "0 God, he
is truly one of Your swords; may You help him." And from that day on Khdid
was known as "God's sword"."'
Al-Nasa'i related it from a hadith of 'Abd All& b. al-Mubarak, from al-Aswad
h. Shaybm. His account is similar, hut has a nice addition: "Biibu khayrm! Babu
khaynn! A good beginning!" He then went on to relate the hadith as above.
Al-Waqidi stated that 'Abd al-Jabba b. 'Amaa h. Ghaziyya related to me,
from 'Abd Allah h. Aha Bakr, from 'Amr b. Hazm, who said, "When the army
joined in battle at Mu'ta, the Messenger of God (SAAS) sat on the mznbar and
God revealed to him what lay between him and Syria so that he could observe
their conflict. He said, 'Zayd b. Haitba took the banner and Satan came to him