Khawlah bint al-Azwar (ra)

“I swear by Allah, I will fight in the path of Allah and I will follow those people that turn to Allah. My Lord will never see me turn my back and flee from fighting. If I turn back then I will be disobeying Allah and then I will be from the sinful.”
With this, Diraar bin al Azwar (ra), saying the takbeer, jumped into the midst of the Roman soldiers and attacked.

Hearing the takbeer, the other Muslims followed suit, and the takbeer echoed on the battlefield and tore the hearts of the Kuffar with fear and ru`b. Diraar (ra) was fighting with such fervor and passion that he struck dead all that came in his way until he came to an enclosure at which the main soldiers were standing around.

He understood that this meant that Darwaan (the general of the Roman army) was going to be here. Knowing this, he charged at the group of soldiers. First he attacked the flag bearer and pierced him with such a blow that he fell there and then. Suddenly his eyes fell on Darwaan. He went towards him.

Near Darwaan was a soldier who was holding a prized ornamental cross. Diraar (ra) struck him with a lance which tore his side apart and the cross fell on the floor.

Darwaan on seeing this, sensed his last. He could not but interpret the falling of the cross as a sign of the destruction of him and his army. He got up from his horse, intending to pick the cross up but instantly some Muslims who were nearby got down from their horses to pick it up and encircled Darwaan.

Diraar (ra) was still occupied in fighting but when he saw the happenings he said, ‘O group of Muslims, nor is the cross my right, or your right. Hence have no desire of picking it up. When I finish with this Roman dog and his army, I myself will pick it up’.
Darwaan understood Arabic, and when he heard these words he thought of fleeing the battle but his main army officials saw him escaping and said angrily, “Where are you fleeing?”

He replied, “I am fleeing from the fear of this shaytaan (indicating towards Diraar). He is such a frightful person, why have you ever seen such a repulsive fear-provoking person?”

Diraar (ra) sensing that Darwaan was attempting to flee immediately called upon the Muslims. He straightened his spear and with his horse went directly towards him. The Romans also heard his cry and all turned their horses towards him in order to enclose him.

At that moment he was saying, “Death is real, where can I flee from it? Jannah is better than Jahannam. This is my shahaadah, O those who are present, be my witness, and all my efforts and work is only to please my Lord.”

With these words he attacked the Romans that were coming towards him. He finished them and then went further into the enemy lines to find Darwaan.

Some of the Roman soldiers came behind him and slowly slowly they surrounded him from all four sides. He resisted attacks from all sides and whichever soldier his sword fell on, it decreed the death for him. In this way he put to sword many of the bravest and courageous warriors from the Roman army. Then he called to the Muslims, “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His path in ranks, as if they were a solid structure.”

Until now the Muslims had not been aware that Diraar (ra) was surrounded by the Romans, and now they went towards him quickly. Hamraan bn Wardaan reached him and struck him with a spear. It struck Diraar (ra) on the right arm. His hand fell to his side, numb in pain.

Like an injured lion, he sprang up again, regaining his composure, he attacked with his spear. Diraar (ra) struck at the chest and cleaved his body into two.

When he tried to take out the spear, as the blade of the spear had gone right through the bone, it came out without the blade. When the Romans saw that his spear was bladeless, they quickly surrounded him, and imprisoned the lion of Islam.

When the Sahaaba saw this, their grief knew no bounds. They attempted another attack to try and free him but it was of no avail. Now, some of the Muslims lost heart and tried to flee but Raafi bn Umayrah Al Taa’ee (ra) stopped them saying,
“Where are you going? Do you not know that whosoever flees from the enemies of Allah he will be under the wrath of Allah. Many of the doors of Jannah are opened for the Mujaahideen and for those who are patient. O elevators of the deen, be patient and remember that if one of your soldier, or your leader gets captured, Allah is still alive and He is watching.”

With this, the Muslims rose to fight eagerly and put to sword many of the leaders of the Roman army.
When Khalid bn al Waleed (ra), found out about Diraar (ra) and the shahaadah of the many Muslims, he was very remorseful. He asked, “How many Romans are there?”, “Twelve thousand” was the answer. He replied, “By Allah, I did not know that the number of the enemy was so large, or else I would never have sent the people to their destruction to fight them.” He further asked, “Who is the commander of the army?” It was answered, “Darwaan, the governor of Hims, and Diraar (ra) had killed his son Hamdaan,” Khalid (ra) said, “There is no might or strength, except of Allah’s, the High and the Great.”

He then sought the advice of Abu `Ubaydah ibn al Jarraah (ra), who told him that he should carry on fighting the Romans. His advice was to keep part of the army with a trustworthy commander whilst Khalid (ra) should go with the rest of the army to fight the Romans. He took heed of the advice and made Maysarah ibn Masrooq (ra), the commander with a thousand soldiers under him and told him not to move from where his contingent was positioned.

Thereafter, addressing his army he said, “Leave your reins free and sharpen your arrows and when you attack the enemy then attack jointly together. It is likely that we will free Diraar (ra) if he is alive and then we will be successful. However, if it so happens that the enemy act in haste and make him a shaheed, then Insha’Allah al `Azeez, we will surely take revenge and I am sure that Allah will not give us grief in regards to him (i.e. they would find him alive).

“Today is the day when truth will reach its goal. When death comes then one does not fear it. I will quench the thirst of my spear with the blood of the eye. Helmet and shield, I will tear apart all. What those that have passed before have achieved, I too will achieve tomorrow.”

Saying this, Khalid (ra) pressed forward when suddenly he saw a rider dressed in black, face covered, on a short necked chestnut brown horse of tall stature. In the riders hand was a long glistening spear, and the style and behavior indicated towards bravery and valor, and this was apparent from every part of the rider. The rider had on a green imaamah whose ends were wrapped round from the back and positioned around the chest and was spurring onwards at the forefront of the army.

When Khalid (ra) saw this rider, he said, “O that I knew who this rider was, I swear by Allah, it looks like a brave and valiant person.”

As the rider was going on forward ahead of everyone else, towards the army of the non believers, the Muslim army followed behind.

Raafi ibn Umar Al Taa’ee was fighting with the enemies with great perseverance and was confronting them with immense bravery, when he saw Khalid (ra) bringing in his reinforcement and join in the attack. Then suddenly his eyes fell on the rider.

The rider was falling upon the Romans as a falcon would a sparrow and was creating unprecedented panic amongst the Romans. Any soldier that came in the way was slain and in this way the rider advanced more and more inside the core of the Roman army.

Like a flash of lightening was the rider, and in an instant a couple of heads would be put to the sword. A number of soldiers were reduced to ashes and fell on an already large number of fallen Romans and due to this the place stood out from the rest of the battlefield.

When the riders sword would come out from its usage in the army, it was dripping in blood, which caused great anguish and uneasiness in the hearts of the Kuffar and the distress and hopelessness felt by them was obvious.
As the rider was in a difficult position, the rider turned and then came back again with a daring attack. The rider struck and slew the Romans and caused great commotion in the ranks of the most brave of the Roman warriors. Thereafter the rider retreated from the Romans and then went out of sight but the anguish and distress was still felt by the Romans and the attack of the rider had evidently left a mark on the Romans.

Raafi ibn Umayrah Al Taa’ee and his soldiers thought that this was Khalid (ra) as who could fight with more valor and courage than him? They were all sure of this until in front of them appeared Khalid bn Waleed (ra). Raafi (ra) exclaimed loudly, “Then who is this person who is giving his life in the way of Allah without fear and is killing the Kuffar in such numbers?” Khalid (ra) replied, “I swear by Allah, I myself am amazed by the bravery that this person exhibits.” Diraar (not ibn al Azwar) said, “O Ameer, this is surely a strange person who goes right in the midst of the roman army and from right and left kills the soldiers.” Then Khalid (ra) said, “O Muslims, come together and prepare for another attack.”

All the Muslims got their weapons ready and put their spears in place and straightened their rows. Khalid (ra) was in the vanguard. His intention was to make an attack on the Romans when suddenly the rider who was drenched in blood and whose horse was drowning in sweat, appeared going in the direction of the Roman army.

If any Roman soldier got anywhere near the rider then the rider would fight with such bravery that resulted in the death of the Roman. The rider alone and single handed was fighting with a number of the soldiers. Seeing this, Khalid (ra) and the rest of the soldiers launched an attack and saved the rider from the Roman soldiers who were attacking ‘him’ and this was how the Muslim army and the rider met.

The Muslim army looked at the rider pensively as if ’it’ was a red petal of a rose which was colored in blood. Khalid (ra) spoke loudly and said, “O person, you have given your life in the way of Allah, and have vented out your anger on our enemies, may Allah give you your due reward. It would be better if you opened up your face so that we may know who you are.”

The rider took no notice of these words of Khalid (ra) and before he had even finished his statement was trying to get away from him. The Muslim army surrounded the rider and said, “O slave of Allah, the ameer of the Islamic army is talking to you and you are not taking heed and ignoring him and fleeing from him. With all due respect you should go to him and tell him your name and lineage so that your status can be raised.” But the rider gave no answer.

When Khalid (ra) could get no information from this rider, he himself went close to the rider. He said, “It is with great remorse that all the Muslims and I are restless to know more about you and you are totally unconcerned. Who are you?”
At this the rider spoke. It was a female voice that spoke.

“O Ameer, I was not intending to disobey you, when I did not answer you, but I was too shy to answer as I am of those who wear hijaab and live life in hijaab. However, I came here because of the pain in my heart and the grief which rose to the point that it brought me here.”
Khalid (ra) said, ‘Who are you?’
She replied, “I am the sister of the imprisoned Diraar: Khawlah bint al Azwar. I was sitting amongst some women from the tribe of Mazhaj when I found out about the imprisonment of my brother, Diraar. Instantly, I got on to my horse and I reached this place and whatever I have done, you have seen it.”
Listening to this, Khalid bn Waleed’s heart rose. He started weeping and said, ‘We should all do a joint attack and I am hopeful, Allah willing, that we will reach to where your brother is and we will free him, and we will surely be successful.

Khawlah answered, “I too will participate in the attack, Insha’Allah.”

Diraar (ra) was eventually freed.

[Adapted and translated from Futooh al Shaam by `Allamah Muhammed Al Waqidee]

The objective of the above piece from the seerah of the Sahaabah is to show the legitimacy of women participating and fighting in jihaad. Although, it is just one woman that participates in this particular encounter, it still shows the permissibility of it. This can also be seen by the participation in battles by the likes of Nusaybah, Khansaa, Umm Ayman, Umm Salamah and etc, who participated for various reasons from tending the wounded and providing water to actually fighting.

It also shows some of the conditions attached to it. Khawlah (ra), did not discard her hijaab when she went, but she abided by the rules of the religion and covered all her body and it was to that extent that she was not even distinguishable from men.

Furthermore, it should make known one of the Sahaaba (ra), who is relatively unknown by the masses and his achievements still unacknowledged by many whilst without him, the conquest of Shaam (Greater Syria - Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan), would be nigh impossible: Diraar bin al Azwar (ra).
It is also a reminder to answer the call of the prisoners today, who are wistfully hoping that if only there was a Khawlah today who could free them from the tortures of prison.