The Myth:

Muhammad Would Never Harbor a War Criminal

The Truth:

Khalid said, 'Lay down your arms, for everybody has accepted Islam.'

A traditionalist of B. Jadhima who was one of our companions told me: 'When Khalid ordered us to lay down our arms one of our men said, "Woe to you, B. Jadhima! This is Khalid. If you lay down your arms you will be bound, and after you have been bound you will be beheaded. By God, I'll never lay down my arms."

Some of his people laid hold of him saying "Do you want to shed our blood? Everyone else has accepted Islam and laid down their arms; war is over and everybody is safe." They persisted to the point of taking away his arms, and they themselves laid down their arms at Khalid's word. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 834)

As soon as they had laid down their arms, Khalid ordered their hands to be tied behind their backs and put them to the sword, killing a number of them.

I was with Khalid's cavalry that day when a young man of the B. Jadhlma who was about my own age spoke to me. His hands were tied to his neck by an old rope and the women were standing in a group a short distance away. He asked me to take hold of the rope and lead him to the women so that he might say what he had to say and then bring him back and do what we liked with him. I said that that was a small thing to ask and I led him to them.

As he stood by them he said, 'Fare you well, Hubaysha, though life is at an end.'she said: 'May your life be prolonged seven and ten continuous years and eight thereafter.' Then I took him away and he was beheaded. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 837)

Abu Firiis b. Abu Sunbula al-Aslami from some of their sheikhs from one who was present said: She went to him when he was beheaded and bent over him and kept on kissing him untIl she died at his side.

The apostle summoned Ali and told him to go to these people and look into the affair, and abolish the practices of the pagan era.  So Ali went to them with the money the apostle had sent and paid the bloodwit and made good their monetary loss.

Then the apostle arose and faced the Qibla and raIsed his arms so that his armpits could be seen and said: '0 God, I am innocent before Thee of what Khalid has done.' This he said three times. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 835)

When Khalid reached there he found a naked female with disheveled hair piling dirt over her head and face. He put her to the sword and killed her, then returned and reported to the Prophet (SAAS), who commented, "Yes, that was al-Wza." (Ibn Kathir v.3 p 428)

One of our companions told us that the apostle that day passed by a woman whom Khalid b. al-Walid had killed while men had gathered round her. When he heard what had happened he sent word to Khalid and forbade him to kill child, or woman, or hired slave. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 856)

Further Reading:

Myths of Muhammad Index