Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The leader of those who criticized was ‘Ayyash bin Abi Rabi‘ah. He said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has appointed a young boy as the commander of the Emigrants.”
Upon this, others also began to discuss the matter.
This news reached ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhu).
He refuted those people and informed the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) became very displeased and delivered the aforementioned sermon.
This is what is referred to as the Expedition of Usamah (Jaysh Usamah).
During his final illness, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) instructed that the army of Usamah be dispatched.
There was wisdom in appointing Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) as the commander: his father had been killed at the hands of those disbelievers.
In addition to consoling Usamah, it was also considered that, remembering his father’s martyrdom, he would fight those disbelievers wholeheartedly.
From this hadith, it is also derived that it is permissible for a less virtuous person to be appointed as a leader in the presence of someone more virtuous,
because Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) were certainly more virtuous than Usamah (radi Allahu anhu).

Hadith Commentary:
➊
The army for which Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) was appointed as commander is called the Army of Usamah (Jaysh Usamah).
The wisdom in appointing Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) as commander was that his noble father, Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu), had been martyred at the hands of the disbelievers in the Battle of Mu'tah. In addition to consoling and encouraging Usamah (radi Allahu anhu), it was also considered that, remembering the martyrdom of his noble father, he would fight with great bravery.

➋
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had appointed Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu) as commander in several battles. Salamah ibn Akwa‘ (radi Allahu anhu) reports that we fought seven battles under his command. He was first sent as commander towards Najd, then towards Banu Sulaym, then towards the trade caravans of Quraysh, then towards Banu Tha‘labah, then towards Hasma, then towards Wadi al-Qura, and finally towards Banu Fazarah.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has written that Imam Bukhari’s (rahimahullah) intent is this last battle.
In it, prominent Muhajirun and Ansar participated.
Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), Umar (radi Allahu anhu), and Abu Ubaydah (radi Allahu anhu) and other Companions were under his command.

➌
The purpose of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was to abolish the custom of the Age of Ignorance, and to appoint as commander the one who possessed ability.
(Fath al-Bari: 7/624)
A Persian poet has beautifully said:
Greatness is by intellect, not by age.
Wealth is by heart, not by possessions.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
There is a difference of opinion among linguists regarding the origin of the word "Aym."
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah holds the view that if this word is attributed to Allah, then an oath is established by it.
Imam Nawawi rahimahullah says that "Aym Allah" means "the right of Allah," and when it is used in an absolute sense, it refers specifically to an oath.
This is supported by another hadith in which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said regarding Prophet Sulayman alayhis salam:
"By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad! If he had said 'inshaAllah,' all the children would have remained alive and would have fought in the path of Allah."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Iman wa al-Nudhur, Hadith: 6639)
In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: (wa aym alladhi nafsu Muhammad biyadihi)
(Fath al-Bari: 11/336)

Hadith Commentary:
This army was prepared by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) during his final illness, and he commanded that it should depart immediately. However, shortly thereafter, he passed away.
The army returned from near Madinah.
Then, during his caliphate, Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) prepared and dispatched it again.

Hadith Commentary:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu) as the commander in the Battle of Mu'tah and handed him the banner. Some people objected on the grounds that he was a freed slave and yet had been appointed as their leader. Among that army were also Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) and Umar (radi Allahu anhu).

Aishah (radi Allahu anha) narrates that if Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu) was present in any army, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would appoint him as the commander. Eventually, at the time of the Battle of Mu'tah, people realized that Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu) was indeed worthy of obedience, and it was in this very battle that he was martyred.

In the same manner, during his final illness, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prepared an army to go towards Rome, appointing Usamah ibn Zayd (radi Allahu anhu) as its commander. People objected to this as well, as mentioned in the hadith. That army was still near Madinah Tayyibah when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) passed away, so it returned. Afterwards, Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) dispatched it again under the leadership of Usamah (radi Allahu anhu).

(Fath al-Bari: 7/111)

Hadith Commentary:

Despite the presence of many elderly people, you appointed a young boy as the leader. However, none of the actions of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were devoid of wisdom and foresight.

What happened was that Usamah radi Allahu anhu’s father, Zayd ibn Harithah radi Allahu anhu, had been martyred at the hands of those Roman disbelievers. You appointed his son as the leader so that he would fight those who killed his father with great zeal. Secondly, this would bring some comfort to the heart of Usamah radi Allahu anhu.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had made Usamah radi Allahu anhu’s father, Zayd radi Allahu anhu, his son. When he was martyred in the Battle of Mu’tah, he left behind his only son, Usamah radi Allahu anhu. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) loved him immensely. To the extent that he would seat him on one thigh and Hasan radi Allahu anhu on the other, and would say: “O Allah! I love both of them, so You also love both of them.”

The purpose of mentioning this hadith here is to show that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not pay any attention to the people’s baseless criticism and slander, and did not remove Usamah radi Allahu anhu from leadership.

Now, the objection cannot be raised as to why Umar radi Allahu anhu removed Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu from his position based on the baseless complaints of the people of Kufa, because the wisdom and expediency of every era and situation are different. Although, when Umar radi Allahu anhu investigated the complaints against Sa’d radi Allahu anhu, they turned out to be baseless, yet due to fear of any discord or turmoil, Umar radi Allahu anhu considered it wise to remove him. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), on the other hand, had no such fear of discord or turmoil.

In any case, this matter is entrusted to the judgment of the Imam.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
Objection was raised regarding the leadership (emarah) of Usamah radi Allahu anhu, questioning why he was appointed as commander while senior and elder Companions (kibar wa mashayikh sahabah radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) were present. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam paid no heed to this propaganda and did not remove him from leadership; rather, he praised him. However, Umar radi Allahu anhu, in view of the people's propaganda, removed Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu from the governorship of Kufa.
The reason for this was that the circumstances in Kufa were such that it was necessary to remove him.
If he had not been removed from leadership, there was a risk of the situation deteriorating. Accordingly, Umar radi Allahu anhu also clarified this matter. But regarding Usamah radi Allahu anhu, there was no risk of the situation worsening or any kind of tribulation (fitnah).
2.
The reason for his appointment as commander was that Zayd ibn Harithah radi Allahu anhu had been martyred at the hands of the Romans.
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when forming the army to confront them, entrusted its leadership to Usamah radi Allahu anhu so that he would be reassured and fight the Romans with bravery and face them with full enthusiasm.
In any case, the ruler of the time should be so steadfast that he does not take any action influenced by false propaganda, but rather, after carefully examining the circumstances with open eyes, reaches a conclusion.
(Fath al-Bari: 13/233)

Hadith Commentary:
Despite the fact that in this army there were prominent Muhajirun such as Abu Bakr and Umar (radi Allahu anhuma), the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) as the commander of the army.
The purpose behind this was to honor him and so that he could fight wholeheartedly against the killers of his father, Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu).
The preparation of this army was of great importance to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Even during his final illness, he repeatedly instructed that Usamah’s (radi Allahu anhu) army should be dispatched, but Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) had only just left the city when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) passed away, and Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) returned with the army.
Later, during his caliphate, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu) dispatched this army, and Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) went forth.
He killed the killer of his father.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has mentioned this chapter in the context of the illness of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the circumstances of his passing, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, two days before his death, on a Saturday, prepared an army, while his passing occurred on a Monday. He appointed Usamah radi Allahu anhu as the commander of the army and dispatched it towards Syria.
Since the honorable father of Usamah radi Allahu anhu, Zayd radi Allahu anhu, was martyred in that very land,
therefore, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam consoled Usamah radi Allahu anhu so that he might fight wholeheartedly against the killers of his father.

➋
In reality, the Roman government was not willing to acknowledge the right of Islam and the Muslims to exist.
If anyone there became Muslim, his life would not be safe.
To break the arrogance of this government, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, in Safar of the 11th year of Hijrah, began preparing a large army and appointed Usamah radi Allahu anhu as the commander, instructing him to trample the regions of Balqa and Rome with cavalry.
The purpose of this operation was to frighten the Romans and to restore the confidence of the Arab tribes situated on their borders, so that no one would even imagine
that there was no one to hold the Romans accountable for their oppression.

➌
In any case, the noble Companions—may Allah be pleased with them all—gathered around Usamah radi Allahu anhu and joined his army, and the army set out and encamped at Juruf, three miles from Madinah Tayyibah. However, due to alarming news regarding the illness of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, they could not proceed further and were compelled to remain there, awaiting Allah’s decree. And Allah’s decree was that this army would be regarded as the first campaign of the caliphate of Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu. Thus, after the passing of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu was given allegiance, he ordered Usamah radi Allahu anhu to proceed with the army, and so the army set out under his leadership.
They marched for twenty days, and finally attacked the Romans; whoever raised his head there was killed.
Their houses and fields were set on fire.
Usamah radi Allahu anhu was mounted on his father Zayd radi Allahu anhu’s horse named Subhah, and in Ghārah, he sent his father’s killer to Hell. And by Allah’s grace, not a single Muslim was martyred until their return to Madinah Munawwarah. Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, along with the Muhajirun and the people of Madinah, welcomed them outside Madinah Tayyibah.
(‘Umdat al-Qari: 12/406)

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: This hadith shows that, when entrusting someone with any task, one should consider his capability and competence to determine whether he is actually able to carry out the task or not. Considerations of his family background or age should not be taken into account.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Zayd ibn Harithah (radi Allahu anhu) as commander on various occasions, and the last time was in the Battle of Mu'tah, in which he attained martyrdom. Since he bore the stigma of former slavery, some people felt displeasure at his leadership and objected to it. In his final illness, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Usamah (radi Allahu anhu) as commander and ordered the army to proceed towards Mu'tah. Due to his youth, there was objection to appointing him as commander in the presence of senior Companions, and this army halted because of the severity of the Prophet’s illness. Later, Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) dispatched it.

Explanation:
1:
His indication is towards the incident of appointing Zayd as commander in the Battle of Mu'tah.
From this hadith, the virtue of both the father and the son is established.