According to all the biographers, Khâled B. Alwolyd and A’mru B. Ala’ass and Ttolhah B. Ttolhah Ala’bdary were during this year adorned with the decoration of the Faith. Khâled says that at the time when the apostle of God had proceeded to Mekkah with the intention of performing the visitation, and had arrived in Ghusân, the Qoraish issued from the sanctuary for the purpose of repelling him, and had also arrived in that locality. ‘One day I saw the apostle of God holding the prayers of fear with his companions, and although I desired to injure them [i.e., the Musalmâns] on that occasion, and was unable to do so, I knew that the Almighty was the protector and defender of the apostle and of his friends, that he would soon vanquish his opponents, and would be granted the victory.’
It is related in the Raudzatu-l-âhbâb that there is a tradition of Khâled B. Wolyd wherein he is said to have spoken as follows: ‘When the eternal decree, predestined by Allah that I should become a Musalmân, was to be fulfilled, He inspired me with love for the professors of Islâm, but especially on the day when the prophet was holding the prayer of fear on his march to Hodaybiah in the station of Ghuttfân. I desired to get him into my power, and, being unable to succeed, I knew that he was protected by Divine grace, and that he would soon overpower us. When peace had been concluded between us and him, I apprehended that power and dignity had departed from the Qoraish, but I could not go to the Najjâshy [Negus of Abyssinia] because he had become a follower of Muhammad; accordingly I conceived the intention to betake myself to Heraclius and to make a profession of the Christian or the Jewish religion.’ The writer of these pages says that as Khâled B. Wolyd knew that whoever uttered the formula of monotheism gained the favour of Allah and the apostle, and that the line of forgiveness and oblivion would be drawn over the record of his transgressions, he ought, after love for the professors of Islâm had prevailed in his heart, immediately to have waited upon the apostle of God and uttered the profession of the Faith, without intending to go to Heraclius, or vacillating between the adoption of the Christian or the Jewish religion; and therefore the tradition is more credible wherein no allusion occurs to the love he bore towards the professors of Islâm during the time of ignorance. The [true] knowledge, however, is with Allah.
In short, Khâled says: ‘When I thought of going to Heraclius, I again considered whether I ought not to remain in our own country, to see what would come forth from the curtain of futurity. On that occasion the apostle of God was marching to Mekkah to hold the predestined visitation (O’mratu-l-qadzâ). I absented myself, but my brother Wolyd B. Alwolyd, who had arrived in Mekkah with his lordship the apostle of God, was searching for me; as, however, he was unable to find me, he sent me a letter with the information that his holy and prophetic lordship had remembered me, and had said: “Khâled is an excellent, noble, and glorious individual. One like him cannot have remained ignorant of my mission; had he but visited me, I would have shown him much civility, would have raised his position in life, and would have held him in higher esteem than many other men.” He also wrote: “Dear Brother,—I am astonished that thou becomest not a Musalmân, and still travellest in the desert of aberration, without atoning for bygones. Delay not to attain this felicity [of professing Islâm], but strive to gain it quickly, for thou hast already lost many advantages. Farewell.”’ Khâled says: ‘When I had learnt the contents of this letter love for Islâm induced me to start to Madinah, and in conformity with the maxim, “First a companion and then the journey,” I went to Ssafuwân B. Ommyah and spoke to him as follows: “O Abu Wohb, seest thou not that we have not a crumb of bread left, and that the rumour of Muhammad’s success is permeating the whole world? If thou deemest it fit, we shall hasten to wait on Muhammad, because his honour is our honour.” Ssafuwân, however, laid the hand of refusal upon my request, mentioned great difficulties, and said: “If no other person of the Qoraish is left except myself I shall not follow Muhammad.” Then I said to myself: “I cannot expect this man to accompany me, because his father and brother have been killed on the day of Bedr.” After that I met Akramah B. Abu Jahl, and invited him to walk on the straight road, but he likewise rejected my advice. Having despaired of the acquiescence of these two men, I saw O’thmân B. Ttolhah and read to him the pages of exhortation. He accepted my invitation, and we departed together to Madinah. When we arrived in Hara we found there A’mru B. Ala’ass, who questioned us, and when we informed him of the object of our journey, he said: “I have also come from Abyssinia for the same purpose.” Then we travelled with him, and entered Madinah in his company. When his lordship the apostle became aware of our arrival, he said to his companions: “The Mekkans have thrown to you their very heart’s blood.”’ Khâled continues: ‘When we arrived in Madinah we exchanged our travelling clothes for handsome ones, intending to hasten and to meet the apostle of God. On the way my brother Wolyd came up to us, and said: “Come quickly; the apostle of God has heard of thy arrival and is much pleased therewith, waiting for thy appearance.” I took my brother’s advice and hastened our progress till I reached the august assembly of his lordship the apostle. When the blessed eye of that prince alighted on me he smiled.
| Distich: | A fairy killed men with sweet smiles; I said to her: “Kill me too.” But she smiled again. |
Then I said: “Greeting to thee, O apostle of Allah!” He appeared somewhat surprised, and I continued: “I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.” He rejoined: “Glory and praise be to God, who has directed thee, O Khâled. I perceived thou art intelligent and wise, and entertained hopes that God would lead thee to the good road.” I answered: “O apostle of God, thou hast seen how much I resisted the truth in the infidel regions. Intercede for me with God the Most High, that He may forgive my past transgressions.” He continued: “O Khâled, the profession of Islâm blots out all former sins.” I said: “Nevertheless, be thou my intercessor.” Then he said: “O God, pardon the sins formerly committed by Khâled B. Wolyd.” After that also A’mru B. Ala’ass and Ttolhah B. O’thmân B. Abu Ttolhah Abdary made their profession of the faith.’