Burying grudges

Burying grudges

1987 3 March 7 Burying grudges (145) Abu Bakr despatched an army to Syria, appointing Khalid ibn Said ibn Aas to command It. Umar, however, questioned the propriety of appointing someone who had taken three months to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr and had rebuked the Banu Manaf clan for allowing another branch of the Quraysh to lord over them. Eventually, Umar’s opinion prevailed and Khalid was asked to return the standard that had already been entrusted to him. “It caused me no happiness to be appointed commander,” was Khalid’s reaction, “nor has it caused me any sorrow to be replaced.” Later on, Abu Bakr went to see Khalid. He expressed his regret over having to take the decision to replace him. Furthermore, the Caliph made Khalid promise that he would make no mention of Umar’s role in the affair. Until he died, Khalid never ceased to pray for Umar. (Ibn Saad)