USResident:
Bro Das Reich
Its not about dismissing anything, rather its about not getting into calling judgements to which are not privy with all the required information. The people during those times were the best ones to call judgement upon them, whatever they did, we cannot change that. Their actions and decisions will be decided upon by Allah SWT not us. As for their actions, which we cannot consolidate with the Quranic teachings, is best not to exercise again. I agree that we are not allowed to marry a woman during her Iddat period, this is clear from Quran and Sunnah and yes Khalid bin Walid RA action conflicts with it however we can only surmise what priorities were taken into consideration by Abu Bakr RA when deciding upon this matter. Sometimes wrong-doings cannot be disciplined when greater interests are at stake. This is something even Rasul Allah SAW demonstrated during his lifetime by never taking Abdullah bin Ubay Salool to task for all the ills he had conjured, it was not in the best interests of Islam at the time so Rasul Allah SAW always took a lenient approach with him. When faced with choosing between the lesser of two evils, one should not be maligned for choosing the lesser one despite the fact that it still wrong. It is easy to blame others when one is not in that situation themselves. Khalid bin Walids actions were not condoned but simply no discipline was acted upon due to bigger concerns, a fact later on attested even by Umar RA.
walaikum salam bro USR