then he paid the diyah (blood-money) for Mālik and returned both the captives and the property.

It is related that Mālik was a bold horseman, obeyed by his clan and prone to pride; he was nicknamed “al-Jafūl.” He had come to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—accepted Islam, and was appointed to collect the alms of his tribe. Later he apostatized. When Khālid confronted him, Mālik said, “I will observe the prayer but not the zakāt.” Khālid replied, “Do you not know that prayer and zakāt go together? Neither is accepted without the other!” Mālik retorted, “Your companion used to say the same.” Khālid answered, “And do you still regard him as your companion? By Allah, I was on the verge of striking off your head.”

They argued at length until Khālid resolved to execute him. Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī and Ibn ʿUmar spoke on his behalf, but he rejected their plea and said to Ḍirār ibn al-Azwar, “Strike off his head.” Mālik turned to his wife—she was exceedingly beautiful—and said, “This woman has been my undoing.” Khālid responded, “No, Allah has slain you for turning back from Islam.” Mālik declared, “I am still upon Islam.” Khālid nonetheless ordered, “Behead him,” and so his head was struck off and used as one of three stones to support a cooking pot. Khālid then married the woman.

Over this, Abū Zuhayr al-Saʿdī composed the following verse:

Khālid, in wanton wrong, decreed his death for the sake of a bride;
Long before that day his heart for her had sighed.