Umm Sulaym's Dagger and Wisdom With Past Offenses

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi explains:

Another benefit is wisdom in handling past offenses, whether to punish or to forgive. At Ḥunayn a grave crime occurred: the new Muslims fled the battlefield, and turning to flee on the day of battle (التَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْف) is named by the Prophet ﷺ among the seven deadly sins: اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَات.

❧Umm Sulaym's dagger

When the men fled, Umm Sulaym, one of the famous women Companions, leapt from her mount, ran from the women's section to the Prophet ﷺ, and drew a hand-dagger. The Companions wondered at it; she said that if anyone came near she would drive it into his belly. Such was her courage, standing among the small band of men who held firm.

"Execute the cowards." When the battle was won she came, still angry, and said, "Yā RasūlAllāh, execute all those cowards who fled, they betrayed you, they deserve death." But the Prophet ﷺ answered, "O Umm Sulaym, Allāh has sufficed and done well (قَدْ كَفَى وَأَحْسَن); He defended us, and al-ḥamdu lillāh, all is well." Yes, a sin and a crime had been committed, but the deed was done, and nothing was to be gained by executing a thousand men over it. Let it be; the past is past. This is the wisdom of the Prophet ﷺ.