name, as is established in Sahīh al-Bukhārī in the hadith of Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī, from Humayd ibn Hilāl, from Anas ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—who related: “The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—announced to the people the deaths of Zayd, Ja‘far, and Ibn Rawāha before news of them had reached him. He said:

‘Zayd took the banner and was killed; then Ja‘far took it and was killed; then Ibn Rawāha took it and was killed’—his eyes streaming with tears—‘until one of Allah’s swords—Khālid (1)—took it, and Allah granted them victory.’” (2).

This does not preclude others from also being swords of Allah Most High. Rather, it implies that Allah has multiple swords and that he is one of them. There is no doubt that Khālid killed more disbelievers than others did, and he met with great success in his campaigns. He embraced Islam after al-Hudaybiyya and before the conquest of Mecca, together with Amr ibn al-Ās, Shayba ibn Uthmān, and others. From the time he embraced Islam, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would appoint him to command forces in jihad. He also set out on the expedition to Mu’ta, regarding which the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Your commander is Zayd; if he is killed, then Ja‘far; and if he is killed,