Hazrate Khawlah (R.A)

Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) had overwhelmed Damascus. He had sent a Muslim blocking force to the north to prevent Roman reinforcements from coming to refill the stronghold at Damascus. At the head of this army was the commander Hazrat Dhiraar (R.A), he was a fierce warrior who had unfortunately been captured by the Roman reinforcements since their army was twice the strength of the Muslims.

When Hazrat Khalid (R.A) approached the battlefield he suddenly saw a Muslim rider flash past him from behind and gallop off towards the Roman front. Before Hazrat Khalid (R.A) could stop him, he was gone. A slim, lightly-built person, dressed in black, this rider wore a breastplate and was armed with a sword and a long lance. He sported a green turban and had a scarf wrapped around his face, acting as a mask, with only his eyes visible. Hazrat Khalid (R.A) arrived on the battlefield in time to see this rider throw himself at the Romans with such fury that everyone present thought that he and his horse must both be mad.

Hazrat Khalid (R.A) took a little time to organise Hazrat Raafe's (R.A) group and his own Mobile Guard into one and deploy it as a combined force for battle. Meanwhile the masked rider treated the Muslims to a thrilling display of horsemanship and attacks with the lance.

The masked rider, now joined by many others, continued his personal war against the Romans as the entire Muslim force attacked the Roman front. Soon after the general attack had begun, Hazrat Khalid (R.A) got near this rider and called, "O warrior, show us your face." A pair of dark eyes flashed at Hazrat Khalid (R.A) before the rider turned away and galloped off into another assault at the Romans. As the masked rider returned from his charge, he passed by Hazrat Khalid (R.A), who called to him sternly to stop. The rider pulled up his horse and Hazrat Khalid (R.A) continued, "You have done enough to fill our hearts with admiration. Who are you?"

Hazrat Khalid (R.A) was shocked when he heard the reply of the masked rider, for it was the voice of a female! "O commander, I only turn away from you out of modesty. You are the glorious commander, and I am of those who stay behind the veil. I fight like this because my heart is on fire." "Who are you?" asked Hazrat Khalid (R.A) "I am Khawlah, sister of Dhiraar. My brother has been captured, and I must fight to set him free."

Hazrat Khalid (R.A) ordered his army to chase the fleeing Roman army, with Hazrate Khawlah (R.A) leading the attack, looking in all directions for her brother, but in vain. By noontime, the victory was decisive. Most of the Roman soldiers were killed. Knowing that the prisoners had to be somewhere, Hazrat Khalid (R.A) sent Hazrate Khawlah (R.A) with a number of knights to find them. Once they managed to catch up with a Roman detachment, who was taking the prisoners to their headquarters, another fight took place. The Roman guards were all killed and the prisoners along with Hazrat Dhiraar (R.A) were saved.