The fighting stopped because of the darkness.

The fighting stopped because of the darkness. Khalid considered the nightfall was to his advantage and withdrew with the men in the cover of darkness and started the return journey to al-Madinah. When the fleeing contingent reached al-Madinah, the people started pelting dust on their faces to shame them. They used to hide their faces while going around and Salamah ibn Husham stopped going to the congregational prayers in shame.

When they went to the mosque, the people used to shame them with the calls of deserters! They used to say: “Are you one of the persons who deserted from Allah’s Way?”[1] This event took place in Jumada I, 8H but no steps were taken to exact qisas for the martyrs of Mu’tah. It appears that, for some reason, the Prophet (a.s) wanted to postpone it for his last days. Therefore, during his illness, he called Usamah ibn Zayd, a youth of 18 or 19 years, and put him at the head of a contingent.

Ibn Sa`d writes: “From the Ansar and Muhajirūn there was hardly any prominent person who was not asked to join the ghazwah.

Amongst them were Abū-Bakr Siddik, `Umar ibn al-Khattab, `Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, Sa`d ibn Abi-Waqqas, Sa`id ibn Zayd, Qutadah ibn al-Nu`man and Salamah ibn Aslam ibn Huraysh were included”[2] When the Prophet (a.s), despite his illness, handed over the Standard to Usamah ibn Zayd, the Muslims started criticizing his capability instead obeying the Commands of the Prophet (a.s) and accepting him as their commander.

Sometimes they said that Usamah was too young and inexperienced and at other times, they said that he was the son of a freed slave and it was below their dignity to serve under him. When the Prophet (a.s) got wind of this gossip, he came out with covered head, in a state of high fever, and said: “If you have objection about his Commanding the Contingent, you have been critical of his father’s command too. By Allah! He was capable of the Command and in my eyes more likeable than others!

This youth too is dear to me than the others!”[3] [1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 2, Page 323 [2] Al-Tabaqāt, Vol 2, Page 190 [3] Sahīh Muslim, Vol 2, Page 283 Then he went into the house and the ailment became more acute. Even in that state, he was repeatedly telling, “Send the Contingent of Usamah soon, send the Contingent of Usamah urgently, and send the Contingent of Usamah urgently!” Usamah came to the presence of the Prophet (a.s) to see him and said, “O Prophet of Allah (a.s)!