A Story

Ibn Is'haaq narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam once dispatched Hadhrat Khaalid bin

Waleed 'Radiyallahu Anhu Najraan with instructions to invite the Banu Haarith bin Ka'b to

Islaam for three days before engaging them in battle. Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam told him

that if the people accept Islaam, he should accept it from them, otherwise he

should commence battle proceedings. Hadhrat Khaalid bin Waleed Radiyallahu Anhu left

Madinah and when he arrived in Najraan, he sent riders in every direction to

meet the people and invite them to Islaam saying, "0 people! Acept Islaam and

remain in peace." Consequently, all the people accepted Islaam and entered the

Deen they had beeninvited towards. Hadhrat Khaalid bin Waleed Radiyallahu Anhu stayed

with the people to teach them Islaam, the Qur'aan and the Sunnah of

Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam according to the directives that Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam had given to

him in the event that the people accepted Islaam without fighting. Hadhrat

Khaalid bin Waleed Radiyallahu Anhu the wrote the following letter Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam;

In the name of Allaah the Most Kind, the Most Merciful

To Muhammad the Nabi and Rasool of Allaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam

From Khaalid bin Waleed

May peace be to you, 0 Rasulullaah and the mercy and blessings

of Allaah. Before you, I praise Allaah besides Whom there is none

worthy of worship.

0 Rasool of Allaah - may Allaah shower His special mercies on you -

you sent me to the Banu Haarith bin Ka'b tribe with instructions to

invite them to Islaam for three days without engaging them in battle.

Your instructions were that I accept from them their conversion to

Islaam, after which I should teach them the injunctions of Islaam, the

Qur'aan and the Sunnah of Allaah's Nabi. Had they not accepted Islaam,

I was to engage in battle with them.

When I arrived, I invited them to Islaam for three days according to the

instructions of Allaah's Rasool and sent riders among them

saying, '0 Banu Haarith! Accept Islaam and live in peace." They all

accepted Islaam without a fight and I am presently among them

instructing them with that which Allaah has instructed and forbidding

them from that which had forbidden them. I shall be teaching them the

injunctions of Islaam and the Sunnah of Allaah's Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam until the

Rasool of Allaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam writes back to me (with fresh instructions).

May peace be to you, 0 Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam and the mercy and blessings

of Allaah.

Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam sent the following reply to Hadhrat Khaalid bin Waleed Radiyallahu Anhu

In the name of Allaah the Most Kind, the Most Merciful

From Muhammad the Nabi and Rasool of Allaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam

To Khaalid bin Waleed

May peace be to you. Before you, I praise Allaah besides Whom there is

none worthy of worship. Your letter sent with your messenger has

reached me with the news that the Banu Haarith bin Ka'b tribe had

surrendered without a fight and that they accepted the Islaam that you

invited them towards. Your letter also informed me (about the excellent

news) that they all testify that there is none worthy of worship but

Allaah and that Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam is Allaah's servant and Rasul and that

Allaah has guided them by His guidance. You should give them glad

tidings (of Jannah) and warn them (against Jahannam).

Return (to Madinah) together with a delegation from them.

May peace be to you as well as the mercy and blessings of Allaah.

(After receiving the letter from Rasullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam Hadhrat Khaalid bin Waleed

Radiyallahu Anhu returned to Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam accompanied by a delegation from the Banu

Haarith bin Ka'b tribe. When Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam saw them arriving (in Madinah), he

said, "Who are these people who resemble the people of India?" Someone said,

"They are the Banu Haarith bin Ka'b tribe."

When they arrived in the presence of Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam, they greeted him and

said, "We testify that you are Allaah's Rasul arid that there is none worthy of

worship but Allaah." Rasulullaah said, "I also testify that there is none .

worthy of worship but Allaah and that I am Allaah's Rasul." Addressing them

further, Rasulullaah asked, "Are you the people who came forward (accepted

Islaam) when you were admonished?" They all remained silent without offering a

reply. Rasulullaah repeated the question a second and third time and still

no one replied. When Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam repeated the question the fourth time,

Hadhrat Yazeed bin Abdil Madaan Radiyallahu Anhu said , "Yes, 0 Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam It was

us who came forward when we were admonished." He repeated the reply four

times.

Thereafter Rasulullaah said, "If Khaalid had not written to me with the news

that you had accepted Islaam without a fight, I would have cast your heads

beneath your feet." Hadhrat Yazeed bin Abdil Madaan Radiyallahu Anhu said, "By Allaah!

(When we accepted Islaam) We neither praised you nor Khaalid." "Who then did

you praise?" asked Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam. The reply was, "We praised Allaah Who used

you to guide us, 0 Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam" Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam said, "You are quite

right." Thereafter, Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam asked them, "How were you able to defeat

your enemies during the Period of Ignorance?" They said, "We were unable to

defeat our enemies." "Why not!" Rasulullaah exclaimed, "You were certainly

victorious over those whom you fought." They said, "0 Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam We

would defeat our enemies because we remained united without breaking into

factions and never oppressed anyone." Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam said, "You have spoken

the truth." Rasulullaah Sallallhu Alaihi Wa Salam then appointed Hadhrat Qais bin Husayn Radiyallahu Anhu as

their leader.

AI Bidaaya wan Nihaaya