and he wrote to Khalid, so Khalid came to him. Abu Bakr said, “Can you say anything beyond the possibility that he interpreted the matter and erred?” He then reinstated him, paid the blood-money for Malik, and returned both the captives and the property (1).

Ibn Ishaq reports: Khalid entered upon Abu Bakr, related what had happened, offered his apology, and Abu Bakr accepted it.

Sayf, in al-Ridda, narrates—from Hisham ibn ʿUrwah, from his father—that some members of the detachment testified that Malik’s people had given the call to prayer, pronounced the iqamah, and performed the prayer just as they themselves had done. Others testified to the contrary, and they were put to death.

Malik’s brother, Mutammim ibn Nuwayrah, then came to al-Siddiq seeking retaliation for his blood and requesting the release of the captives, so Abu Bakr wrote ordering that the captives be returned.

ʿUmar pressed him insistently to dismiss Khalid, saying, “There is recklessness in his sword.” Abu Bakr answered, “No, O ʿUmar! I will never sheathe (2) a sword that Allah has unsheathed against the disbelievers (3).”

Sayf also transmits—from Ibn Ishaq, from Muhammad ibn Jaʿfar ibn al-Zubayr and others—that Khalid dispatched raiding parties, and Malik was brought before him. People differed about them and about the sincerity of their Islam. Umm Tamim arrived with her face unveiled, threw herself upon Malik—she was the most beautiful of people—and he said to her, “Keep away from me, for by Allah, you have ruined me.”

Khalid then ordered that they be executed, and their necks were struck. Abu Qatadah rose and pleaded with him on their behalf, but Khalid paid no attention. Abu Qatadah mounted his horse, caught up with Abu Bakr, and swore, “I will never march in an army under Khalid’s banner.” He added, “He ignored my statement and accepted the testimony of the Bedouins whom the spoils had tempted (4).”