Sword Of Allah

Khalid bin Walid was that sword of Islam which always remained sheathless against Disbelief.

Allah's Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him!) had awarded him the title of

Saifullah.

Hazrat Khalid was one of those earliest commanders of Islam who had extended the reach of

Islam to lands far away from Madinah. Not only the Islamic history but also the history of

international wars consider him one of the greatest generals who ever lived. Even to this day, the

experts and analysts of the Art of War refer to his battle tactics, his superb military leadership

and unsurpassed understanding of battle maneuvers.

In every battle led by him, the Muslims were fewer in number. The number of Disbelievers

would be twice, sometimes thrice, and in the battlefield of Yarmiik, around forty thousand

Muslims had to contend with the 160,000-strong mighty army of the Roman Caesar and his

allies. The frontline of the enemy army was 12 mile long without a gap in between. Seeing the

expanse of the enemy line, Muslims too had spread over 1 1 miles but with huge gaps in between.

The depth of the enemy line was also manifold. Several squadrons stood, one behind the other

like lines of rocks. Compared to that, there was almost no depth in the Muslim line.

History is amazed, and military analysts are left clueless trying to explain how Muslims were

able to defeat the Romans in the Battle of Yarmiik. And it was a decisive defeat for the Romans.

After this, Baitul Maqdis (Al Quds or Jerusalem) fell into the Muslim hands like a ripe fruit.

This was but the accomplishment of intelligent military tactics. The maneuvers Hazrat Khalid

had implemented in the Battle of Yarmiik are now a part of the training courses of developed

countries' armies.

Khalid never accepted that if the enemy were more in number and had superior weapons, and the

Muslims were fewer, then confronting them would be dangerous. There were even occasions

when he ignored the directions of the Caliph and attacked the enemy and vanquished it. This was

a miracle of firm faith and resolute determination. This was the outcome of his love for Allah

and His Prophet it.

Look at the greatness of Khalid' s character! He did not feel let down when the Caliph of Islam,

Hazrat 'Umar bin Al Khattab (May Allah be pleased with both!) at first relieved him from the

command of the Muslim army. He continued fighting like other soldiers. After the Battle of

Yarmiik, Hazrat 'Umar recalled him to Madinah because of a complaint. He was interrogated in a

manner which though in accordance with the then Arab tradition was quite insulting for a

commander. But KMlid's reaction was such that Hazrat 'Umar wasn't displeased at all. He

accepted the punishment. Khalid bin Al Walid felt highly upset at his dismissal from the duty, yet he never attempted to

dethrone the Muslim Caliph, nor did he make a political party or front of his own. If he had taken

such a step, the entire army would have lined behind him. He was popular and highly revered in

the eyes of the people. He had shattered the two biggest military powers of the day into pieces

and vanquished them - the Persian fire- worshippers and the Roman Christians. Through

incessant victories over the enemies, he had wrested Iraq and Syria from them and made them a

part of the Muslim Caliphate. In spite of all this, he did not speak a single word against the

Islamic Caliphate. He honored the status of the Muslim Caliph ignoring his own esteem.

Who was Khalid, what were his contributions to Islam, and what was the heritage he left for the

Muslims of today? - you will be reading these in the two volumes of this epic story, Shamshire

Be Neyam (The Sheathless Sword).

Gross injustices have been committed against Islamic history. Different reporters and later

historians have confused certain incidents. A single event has been at times reported in several

conflicting ways. The unfairness has gone to the extent that several events have been deliberately

presented in a wrong light due to prejudice and communalism. Don't think that this prejudice has

been displayed only by non-Muslim historians. Even some so-called Muslim historians are guilty

of this.

I have gone through and researched numerous books in order to present every event in the

correct perspective. After due research only, I have written about the events. There were

occasions when it became difficult for me to separate the fact from fiction. Still, I kept

investigating till I was able to decide the fact.

Nevertheless, I am aware that there will be disagreements with me. But they will be limited to

minor and non- significant events alone.

Due to the style I have adopted in writing this tale of chivalry, it is termed historical novel. Yet,

it is not among those historical novels which are filled up with the fictional - in fact, film-like -

colors. It is more of history and very little of novel.

I have presented Hazrat Khalid bin Al Walid and all his contemporaries as normal humans. I

have not depicted them as green-clad super-humans descended from the heavens, nor did I make

him do miracles where he cried out a slogan and the entire enemy fled away in terror.

It need not be mentioned that this book is a must-have for every family and home. This story is a

compilation of our heritage. At a time when immoral stories which are read and viewed under

the pretext of entertainment have put our Muslim offspring off the track, I present this book

"Shamshire Be Neyam" in the hope that you will make your children read this. It contains all the

fascinations of a story, and in addition, it is our history. It is our tradition - the true picture of the

military spirit of Islam.