Once Usamah ibn Zayd killed a person when...

Once Usamah ibn Zayd killed a person when, during the battle, he had recited the kalimah. When the Prophet (a.s) learnt about this, he reprimanded Usamah. Usamah said that the person had recited the kalimah out of the fear of the sword. The Prophet (a.s) said angrily, “Did you peep into the heart of the person?” Imagine killing of Banū-Ghumayda’ by Khalid, who had built a mosque and offered prayers, only to avenge a killing of his relative during the Period of Ignorance!

At the time of the Conquest of Makkah the Prophet (a.s) abolished the practice of avenging killings that was prevalent in the Period of Ignorance, saying: “The avenging of blood, the tribal pride and unnecessary shedding of blood of the Period of Ignorance I have trampled under my feet!”[2] After the sad killings, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) not only paid the blood money for every life lost, but paid them more than their legitimate right.

If their feelings were not ameliorated in these manners, there was a danger of their recanting the Faith because they had newly embraced Islam. The heinous act of Khalid could have had a very bad effect on the others who were still brooding over the prospect of coming into the fold of Islam. The healing touch of the prophet (a.s) and `Ali (a.s) had a salutary effect on the people! [1] Tārīkh al-Ya`qūbī, Vol 2, Page 47 [2] Al-Kāmil fit-Tārīkh, Vol 2, Page 170 Previous…