Georges turned his shield and joined the ranks of the Muslims

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Allah said:

﴿وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَىٰ دَارِ السَّلَامِ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ﴾

And Allah invites to the abode of peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path

 The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ ‌بِعَمَلِ ‌أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ ‌بِعَمَلِ ‌أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَدْخُلُ النَّارَ. وَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ ‌بِعَمَلِ ‌أَهْلِ النَّارِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا”

"Indeed, one of you may engage in the deeds of the people of Paradise until only a cubit remains between him and it. Yet, what has been decreed will precede him, leading him to act in accordance with the deeds of the people of Hell, thus entering therein. Conversely, one of you may undertake the deeds of the people of Hell until a mere cubit separates him from it. Then, what has been decreed will precede him, causing him to act in accordance with the deeds of the people of Paradise and thereby enter therein."

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy)

The truthful and trustworthy ﷺ informs us that a person may spend his life in disbelief in Allah; yet, in the final moments of his life, the mercy of Allah may encompass him, leading him to act in accordance with the deeds of the people of Paradise by embracing Islam and dying upon it. A notable example of this is found in the case of our master Khalid ibnu l-Walid, may Allah accept his deeds, during the Battle of Yarmouk alongside one of the leaders of the Romans."

Before the commencement of the Battle of Yarmouk between the Muslims and the Romans, one of the prominent commanders from the ranks of the Roman army, known as Jarjah (Georges), sought to meet Khalid ibnu l-Walid, the commander of the Muslims. He approached him until their horses were so close that their necks almost intertwined.

Jarjah addressed him: "O Khalid, speak to me honestly and do not lie to me, for a free man does not lie. Do not mislead me, for a noble individual does not deceive the seeker of truth. Has Allah sent down a sword from the heavens upon your Prophet, granting it to you, so that you may defeat anyone you draw it against?" Khalid responded: "No."

Jarjah inquired, "How did you come to be known as the Sword of Allah?" Khalid answered, "Allah sent His Prophet ﷺ among us, and he called us to the truth. Yet, we turned away and distanced ourselves from him entirely. Some of us eventually believed in him and followed his guidance, while others persisted in disbelief and rejection. I was among those who disbelieved and opposed him. However, Allah guided our hearts affirming His absolute dominion and authority, leading us to the truth through him (the Messenger of Allah). We then pledged our allegiance to him. The Prophet ﷺ said to me, 'You are a sword among the swords of Allah, which Allah has unsheathed against the polytheists.' He prayed for my victory in battle, and thus I became known as the Sword of Allah. I am, therefore, among the fiercest Muslims in confronting the polytheists."

Jarjah said, "O Khalid, what do you call people to?" Khalid replied, "To the testimony that there is no Deity but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and to acknowledge what has been revealed to him by Allah." Jarjah asked, "And what if someone does not respond to you?" Khalid answered, "Then the jizyah will be imposed upon them, and we shall offer them protection." Jarjah continued, "And if they refuse to pay it?" Khalid said, " We will warn them of war, and then engage them in battle."

Then Khalid said, "We entered into this matter and pledged allegiance to our Prophet ﷺ while he was alive among us. Revelations from the heavens would come to him, and he would convey to us the scriptures and demonstrate the signs. It is entirely justifiable for anyone who has witnessed what we have seen and heard what we have heard to embrace Islam and offer their allegiance. Indeed, you have not witnessed what we have witnessed, nor have you heard what we have heard of the wonders and evidences. Therefore, whoever enters into this matter with sincerity and genuine intent shall have a distinguished status in Islam."

Jarjah said, "By Allah, have you spoken the truth to me and not deceived me?" Khalid replied, "By Allah, I have spoken the truth to you, and Allah is the Witness over what you asked about." At that moment, Jarjah turned his shield (indicating that he no longer opposed or fought against him) and inclined toward Khalid (meaning he joined the ranks of the Muslims). He embraced Islam by pronouncing the two testimonies of faith and said, "Teach me about Islam."

Khalid then took him to his tent (his private quarters) and gradually trickled water from a waterskin over him. Jarjah performed ablution and prayed two rak^ahs.

When the Romans learned of what Jarjah had done, they became furious and attacked the Muslims. Khalid and Jarjah then went out to confront them in battle. Throughout the day, Jarjah fought alongside the Muslims against his own people in this engagement, ultimately achieving martyrdom. Notably, he did not pray in his lifetime except for the two rak^ahs he performed with Khalid ibnu l-Walid.

 Next: "Paradise is closer to any of you than the strap of his sandal, and so is Hell"