infallible. Some of his deputies would commit objectionable acts, which he would condemn, and he dismissed those among them whom he deemed fit to dismiss. For example, he commissioned Khālid ibn al-Walīd to fight Banū Jadhīma, but Khālid killed them. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) paid compensation at half their prescribed blood-money rate and sent Alī ibn Abī Tālib, who made good all their losses, down to the vessel from which a dog drank (1). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) raised his hands (2) to heaven and said:

“O Allah, I disavow before You what Khālid has done.” (3)

Khālid and Abd al-Rahmān ibn Awf then quarreled, until the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Do not revile my Companions. By Him in whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Mount Uhud in gold, it would not equal (4) even one mudd given by one of them, nor half of it.” (5)

Despite this, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did not dismiss Khālid.

He appointed al-Walīd ibn Uqba to collect the obligatory alms from a people. Al-Walīd returned and reported that they had refused to pay and had taken up arms, so the Prophet intended to launch an expedition against them. Allah Most High then revealed:

“If an evildoer brings you news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm a people out of ignorance.”

(Surah al-Hujurāt: 6)

He placed Sa'd ibn Ubāda in command on the Day of the Conquest. When he learned that Sa'd had said:

“Today is the day of carnage; today what is sacred will be violated,”

he dismissed him and appointed his son Qays in his stead. He sent his turban as proof of the dismissal, so that Sa'd would know that it was an order from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

When complaints were made to him about some of his deputies, he would instruct the deputy to act as Allah had commanded (6), just as the people of