He answered, “No; agree instead on Khālid ibn al-Walīd.” Khālid then rallied the troops, fought defensively, manoeuvred, and, once he had drawn clear and the army had pulled back around him, he led the Muslims in withdrawal.

Hammād ibn Zayd related from Ayyūb, from Ḥumayd ibn Hilāl, from Anas, who said: “The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—announced the death of Jaʿfar, Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, and Ibn Rawāḥah. He gave us the news before any report of them had arrived, and tears were flowing from his eyes.”

Al-Bukhārī recorded this report and added: “He mourned them, saying, ‘Zayd took the banner and was struck down; then Jaʿfar took it and was struck down; then Ibn Rawāḥah took it. After them the banner was taken by a sword from among the swords of Allah: Khālid ibn al-Walīd.’” He kept repeating this to the people while tears streamed from his eyes.

Sulaymān ibn Ḥarb said: al-Aswad ibn Shaybān told us, on the authority of Khālid ibn Samīr, who said: “ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ribāḥ al-Anṣārī came to us—the Anṣār regarded him as a learned man. The people crowded around him, and I was among them. He said: ‘Abū Qatadah, the horseman of the Messenger of Allah, related to us: The Messenger of Allah dispatched the Expedition of the Commanders, saying, “Your commander is Zayd ibn Ḥārithah; if he is struck down, then Jaʿfar; if Jaʿfar is struck down, then ʿAbd Allāh ibn Rawāḥah.” At that, Jaʿfar leapt up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I never feared that you would place Zayd in authority over me.” He replied, “Set out, for you do not know which of you will prove the better.” They departed and remained away for as long as Allah willed.

‘Then the Messenger of Allah ascended the pulpit and ordered that a call be made: “The prayer is about to be held in congregation.” The people gathered around him and he said, “I will inform you about your army: they advanced, encountered the enemy, and Zayd was killed as a martyr”—and he sought forgiveness for him. He continued, “Jaʿfar then took the standard, charged the enemy, and was martyred”—he bore witness to his martyrdom and sought forgiveness for him. “Then ʿAbd Allāh ibn Rawāḥah took the standard and planted his feet firmly…’”