Fath al-Rabbani

Narrated from Sayyiduna ‘Awf bin Malik Ashja‘i (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: We undertook a military expedition towards Syria (this was the Battle of Mu’tah fought in 8 AH), and Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was our commander. A man from the supporters and helpers of the Himyar tribe joined us; he came to our place of residence and had only a sword with him, no other weapon. A Muslim slaughtered some camels, and that man kept making excuses until he made something like a shield from the skins of those camels. Then he spread it on the ground and lit a fire on it until it dried, then he attached a handle to it like a shield. Then, according to Allah’s decree, our encounter with the enemies began. Our enemy consisted of Romans and members of the Arab tribe of Banu Quda‘ah. They fought us fiercely. Among the Romans was a warrior who rode a red horse with a golden saddle, the bridle of the horse was also covered in gold, and his sword was similarly golden. He began attacking the Muslims and igniting the fire of battle. The man from the Himyar tribe started making excuses for this Roman, until when he passed by him, he followed him, cut the back knee of his horse, so the horse fell, and he attacked the Roman with his sword and killed him. When Allah granted victory to the Muslims, that man began to ask for the spoils (salb), while people were testifying in his favor that indeed he had killed him. But Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) gave him some of the belongings and withheld the rest. Then, when he returned to the residence of Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) and told him about this, he said: Go back to Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him); he should give you the remaining share as well. So he went back, but they refused to give him the rest. So Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) himself went to Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has decreed the spoils for the killer? He said: Yes, of course, I know. He said: Then what is preventing you from giving him the spoils of his slain? Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Actually, I considered this share to be too much (and did not give all of it to him). Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I see the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I will surely inform him about you. Then, when they reached Madinah, Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) sent that man, and he went and complained about Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) and sought help from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him), while Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was sitting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Khalid! What prevented you from giving this man his spoils? He said: O Messenger of Allah! I considered the spoils to be too much. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then give it to him. When Sayyiduna Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), he pulled Sayyiduna Khalid’s cloak and said: What I told you, I have now fulfilled it for you. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard this reproach from Sayyiduna ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), he became angry and said: Khalid! Do not give it to him. Will you not leave my commanders for me? The example of me and my commanders is like that of a man who was told to herd camels or goats, so he herded them, then he set a time for them to drink and brought them to the watering place. They began to drink and drank all the clear water, and the muddy water remained. (Understand that) the clear part is for you and the muddy part is upon my commanders.