When we speak of Khalid bin Waleed رضي الله عنه, his service as a great warrior springs to mind. We remember him for his strategies and accomplishments, but he was a great worshipper too. However, that is seldom spoken about as worship is a personal matter. The amount of Salah, dhikr and Qur’an one reads in private cannot be seen by others. Not many know about that part of his life. However, his public efforts are known and remembered.
Anyone can acquire the skills to become a warrior, but to remain steadfast requires a high level of Imaan and yaqeen. Thus, the only reason Khalid رضي الله عنه was a successful warrior, is because he was a successful worshipper first. He built a strong connection with Allah which gave him the strength to conquer and lead.
These stories from the past are recorded in books to inspire us. Many of us desire to emulate them in serving the Deen of Allah. Some want to feed the poor, others write, preach or teach. Alongside these noble works, we must ensure our connection with Allah is strong. Build a strong, unshakable relationship with Allah. Work on your Imaan. Build your yaqeen in Allah. Strengthen your worship and private matters, and He will strengthen your deeni work and public matters. This is the primary lesson the stories of the past serve us: Start with yourself first. May Allah grant us the tawfiq, Aameen.
— Shaykh Dawood Seedat حفظه اللّٰه
Above is an extract from Shaykh’s talk on 20/2/19 in Masjid-ut-Taqwa, Pietermaritzburg. To listen to the full audio, please click here.
