Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad:22551ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Mahdī > al-Aswad b. Shaybān > Khālid b. Sumayr

[Machine] Abu Qatadah Al-Faris, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army of leaders and said, "Zaid bin Harithah should take charge, and if Zaid is killed, then Ja'far should take charge, and if Ja'far is killed, then Abdullah bin Rawahah, the Ansari, should take charge." Ja'far stepped forward and said, "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! I have never feared being commanded by Zaid." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Proceed, for you do not know which of them is better." The army set out and stayed as long as Allah willed. Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended the pulpit and ordered the call for congregational prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A piece of news has reached me or a messenger has come with a message. It is doubtlessly Abdullah ibn Rawahah, who will inform you about your army. They set out until they encountered the enemy and Zaid was martyred. Seek forgiveness for him." The people sought forgiveness for him. Then, Ja'far bin Abi Talib took charge of the flag and fought the enemy until he was martyred. He was truly worthy of martyrdom and the people sought forgiveness for him. Then, Abdullah bin Rawahah took charge of the flag and stood firm until he was martyred. The people sought forgiveness for him. Then, Khalid bin Al-Walid, who was not a leader appointed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, took charge of the flag and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his fingers and said, "O Allah, he is a sword from Your swords. Support him." Abdur-Rahman said, "May I be sacrificed for you, support him on this day." On that day, Khalid was named the Sword of Allah. Then, the Prophet ﷺ said, "March forward and support your brothers. May none of you lag behind." The people went forward in intense heat, on foot and on mounts.  

أحمد:٢٢٥٥١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ عَنْخَالِدِ بْنِ سُمَيْرٍ قَالَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَبَاحٍ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ قَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَتَادَةَ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ جَيْشَ الْأُمَرَاءِ وَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ حَارِثَةَ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ فجَعْفَرٌ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ جَعْفَرٌ فعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَوَثَبَ جَعْفَرٌ فَقَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ وَأُمِّي مَا كُنْتُ أَرْهَبُ أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَيَّ زَيْدًا قَالَ امْضُوا فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي أَيُّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ الْجَيْشُ فَلَبِثُوا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُنَادَى الصَّلَاةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ نَابَ خَبرٌ أَوْ ثَابَ خَبَرٌ شَكَّ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ جَيْشِكُمْ هَذَا الْغَازِي إِنَّهُمْ انْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى لَقُوا الْعَدُوَّ فَأُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَشَدَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا أَشْهَدُ لَهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأَثْبَتَ قَدَمَيْهِ حَتَّى أُصِيبَ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ هُوَ أَمَّرَ نَفْسَهُ فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُصْبُعَيْهِ وَقَالَ اللهُمَّ هُوَ سَيْفٌ مِنْسُيُوفِكَ فَانْصُرْهُ وَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ مَرَّةً فَانْتَصِرْ بِهِ فَيَوْمَئِذٍ سُمِّيَ خَالِدٌ سَيْفَ اللهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْفِرُوا فَأَمِدُّوا إِخْوَانَكُمْ وَلَا يَتَخَلَّفَنَّ أَحَدٌ فَنَفَرَ النَّاسُ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ مُشَاةً وَرُكْبَانًا  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá
ahmad:22566ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Mahdī > al-Aswad b. Shaybān > Khālid b. Sumayr

[Machine] Abu Qatada al-Ansari al-Faris, a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army of commanders and he said, "Zaid bin Harithah is in charge of you. If he falls, Ja'far bin Abi Talib will take charge. If Ja'far falls, then Abdullah bin Rawaha al-Ansari will lead." Ja'far stood up and said, "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. I have never been more afraid of being appointed over others by you." The Messenger of Allah said, "You should accept it, for you do not know which of you is better." They then departed and stayed as long as Allah wished. Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended the pulpit and ordered the congregational prayer to be announced. He said, "Nab (news) arrived, or news stayed, or news rested." Some people speculated, so Abdur Rahman said, "Shall I tell you about your army? It has gone out and met the enemy. Zaid was martyred, so ask for forgiveness for him." The people asked for forgiveness for him. Then, Ja'far bin Abi Talib took the flag and fought until he was martyred. He testified for him with martyrdom, so they asked for forgiveness for him. Then, Abdullah bin Rawaha took the flag and stood firm until he was martyred. They asked for forgiveness for him. Then, Khalid bin Walid took the flag, even though he was not one of the commanders, he appointed himself. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his two fingers and said, "O Allah, this is a sword from Your swords, so grant him victory." From that day, he was called Khalid, the Sword of Allah. Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "March forth. Strengthen your brothers and do not leave anyone behind." The people then headed out in intense heat, on foot and mounted.  

أحمد:٢٢٥٦٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ سُمَيْرٍ قَالَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَبَاحٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ وَكَانَتِ الْأَنْصَارُ تُفَقِّهُهُ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ فِي حِوَاءِ شَرِيكِ بْنِ الْأَعْوَرِ الشَّارِعِ عَلَى الْمِرْبَدِ وَقَدْ اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَتَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ جَيْشَ الْأُمَرَاءِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ حَارِثَةَ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ فَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ جَعْفَرٌ فعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَوَثَبَ جَعْفَرٌ فَقَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَرْهَبُ أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَيَّ زَيْدًا قَالَ امْضِهْ؛ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي أَيُّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ فَانْطَلَقُوا فَلَبِثُوا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُنَادَى الصَّلَاةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ نَابَ خَبَرٌ أَوْ بَاتَ خَبْرٌ أَوْ ثَابَ خَبْرٌ شَكَّ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ جَيْشِكُمْ هَذَا الْغَازِي إِنَّهُمْ انْطَلَقُوا فَلَقَوْا الْعَدُوَّ فَأُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَشَدَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا أَشْهَدُ لَهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأَثْبَتَ قَدَمَيْهِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوالَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ هُوَ أَمَّرَ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُصْبَعَيْهِ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ هُوَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِكَ فَانْصُرْهُ فَمِنْ يَوْمِئِذٍ سُمِّيَ خَالِدٌ سَيْفَ اللهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ انْفِرُوا فَأَمِدُّوا إِخْوَانَكُمْ وَلَا يَتَخَلَّفَنَّ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَنَفَرَ النَّاسُ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ مُشَاةً وَرُكْبَانًا  

ذِكْرُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ

ibnhibban:7048al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥubāb > Sulaymān b. Ḥarb > al-Aswad b. Shaybān > Khālid b. Sumayr

[Machine] Abu Qatada Fares, a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , reported:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army led by commanders. He said, "Follow Zaid bin Haritha, and if he is martyred, then follow Jafar, and if he is martyred, then follow Abdullah bin Rawaha." Jafar stepped forward and said, "O Messenger of Allah, may I be sacrificed for you, my father and mother! I do not have a strong desire to be chosen over Zaid." The Prophet ﷺ said, "March forth, for you do not know in which matter goodness lies for you."

So they departed and stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended the pulpit and commanded the call to prayer to be made for congregational prayer. He said, "Shall I inform you about your army that has fought a battle? They advanced and met the enemy, and Zaid was martyred. Pray for his forgiveness." The people began to pray for him. Then Jafar bin Abu Talib took the flag and fought the enemy until he was martyred. Pray for his forgiveness." The people began to pray for him. After that, Abdullah bin Rawaha took the flag and fought the enemy until he was martyred. Pray for his forgiveness." The people began to pray for him. Then Khalid bin Al-Walid took the flag, even though he was not a commander, but he appointed himself as one. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised both of his hands and said, "O Allah, he is one of Your swords, therefore give him victory." From that day on, Khalid bin Al-Walid was called "the Sword of Allah."  

ابن حبّان:٧٠٤٨أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ سُمَيْرٍ قَالَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَبَاحٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ وَكَانَتِ الْأَنْصَارُ تُفَقِّهُهُ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَتَادَةَ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَيْشَ الْأُمَرَاءِ قَالَ «عَلَيْكُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ حَارِثَةَ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ فَجَعْفَرٌ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ جَعْفَرٌ فَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ» فَوَثَبَ جَعْفَرٌ فَقَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَرْغَبُ أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَيَّ زَيْدًا فَقَالَ «امْضِ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي فِي أَيِّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ» فَانْطَلَقُوا فَلَبِثُوا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُنَادَى الصَّلَاةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَقَالَ «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ جَيْشِكُمْ هَذَا الْغَازِي؟ انْطَلَقُوا فَلَقَوَا الْعَدُوَّ فَأُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ شَهِيدًا اسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ» فَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ النَّاسُ «ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَشَدَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا اسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَثَبَتَتْ قَدَمَاهُ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا اسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ هُوَ أَمَّرَ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ضَبْعَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ » اللَّهُمَّ هُوَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِكَ انْتَصِرْ بِهِ فَمِنْ يَوْمَئِذٍ سُمِّيَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ سَيْفَ اللَّهِ «  

nasai-kubra:8192ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > al-Aswad b. Shaybān > Khālid b. Sumayr

[Machine] Abu Qatadah al-Ansari, the Persian messenger of Allah's Messenger ﷺ , narrated: Allah's Messenger ﷺ sent the army of the leaders and said, "Zaid bin Harithah is your leader. If Zaid is martyred, then Ja'far bin Abi Talib should take over. If Ja'far is martyred, then Abdullah bin Rawahah should step forward." Ja'far stood up and said, "By my father and mother! I have never been afraid to be assigned under Zaid." Zaid replied, "Go, for you do not know in which of the two is goodness for you." So they left and stayed as long as Allah willed. Then, Allah's Messenger ﷺ ascended the pulpit and ordered the congregational prayer to be called. He said, "Shall I inform you about your army, this warrior? They set off and encountered the enemy. Zaid was martyred, so seek forgiveness for him and people sought forgiveness for him." Ja'far bin Abi Talib took the banner and fought fiercely until he was martyred. He bore witness to him with martyrdom, so seek forgiveness for him. Then, Abdullah bin Rawahah took the flag and held his ground until he was martyred. Seek forgiveness for him too. Then, Khalid bin Al-Walid, who was not one of the leaders, took command upon himself. Then, Allah's Messenger ﷺ raised his two fingers and said, "O Allah! It is a sword among Your swords, so grant it victory." Then he said, "March forward and strengthen your brothers, and let no one hesitate." So the people went forth in intense heat, by foot and on horseback.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٨١٩٢أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ سُمَيْرٍ قَالَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَبَاحٍ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَكَانَتِ الْأَنْصَارُ تُفَقِّهُهُ فَقَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَتَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ جَيْشَ الْأُمَرَاءِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ حَارِثَةَ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ فَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَإِنْ أُصِيبَ جَعْفَرُ فَعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَوَثَبَ جَعْفَرٌ فَقَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي مَا كُنْتُ أَرْهَبُ أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَيَّ زَيْدًا فَقَالَ «امْضِ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي فِي أَيِّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ؟» فَانْطَلَقُوا فَلَبِثُوا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُنَادَى الصَّلَاةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ جَيْشِكُمْ هَذَا الْغَازِي؟ إِنَّهُمُ انْطَلِقُوا فَلَقُوا الْعَدُوَّ فَأُصِيبَ زَيْدٌ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ النَّاسُ» ثُمَّ أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَشَدَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا أَشْهَدُ لَهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأَثْبَتَ قَدَمَيْهِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ شَهِيدًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوا لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللِّوَاءَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ هُوَ أَمَّرَ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِصْبُعَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ «اللهُمَّ إِنَّهُ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِكَ فَانْتَصَرَ بِهِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «انْفِرُوا فَأَمِدُّوا إِخْوَانَكُمْ وَلَا يَخْتَلِفَنَّ أَحَدٌ فَنَفَرَ النَّاسُ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ مُشَاةً وَرُكْبَانًا»