Virtues, Achievements & Burial Place of Khalid ibn al-Walid

A Brief Biography of Khalid ibn al-Walid

The great companion Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira al-Qurashi al-Makki. He was a prominent figure in the Muslim nation and one of its great warriors.

He embraced Islam in the 8th year after the Hijrah and fought in dozens of battles without ever being defeated. Physically, he was broad-shouldered, large in build, strong in physique, and closely resembled Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Early Life and Notable Traits of Khalid ibn al-Walid

He was Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira ibn Abdullah ibn Makhzum ibn Yaqaza ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib. It is said he bore a great physical resemblance to Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both). He held a prominent position in the Quraysh tribe before Islam, as well as among the Companions after embracing Islam.

Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for his strength and military acumen. He possessed all the traits of a leader: bravery, preparedness, initiative, and fearlessness. He was raised in the desert, as it was customary for the Quraysh to send their children there to strengthen their character. He returned to his family at the age of six.

He embraced Islam after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hoped for good from him and sent a message through his brother al-Walid to speak to him about Islam. Khalid was moved by this, felt immense joy at the Prophet’s concern for him, and went himself with his companion Amr ibn al-As to the Prophet, where they both declared their acceptance of Islam.

Virtues of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was renowned for his intelligence, military strategy, bravery, and love for jihad in the path of Allah. For this reason, the Prophet named him “The Sword of Allah”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Zayd took the banner and was martyred, then Ja’far took it and was martyred, then Ibn Rawahah took it and was martyred, and his eyes were shedding tears. Then a sword from the swords of Allah took it until Allah granted them victory”.

Wahshi ibn Harb (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'What a fine servant of Allah and brother of the tribe is Khalid ibn al-Walid, a sword from the swords of Allah which He unleashed upon the disbelievers and hypocrites'”.

The Most Important Achievements of Khalid ibn al-Walid

The great companion Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) had significant military achievements, among which are the following:

• Battle of Mu'tah: When he took the banner after the martyrdom of its three commanders, and contributed to saving the Muslim army.
• Wars against the Apostates: When Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) chose Khalid ibn al-Walid to lead the Muslim armies in the battle against the apostates. He (may Allah be pleased with him) succeeded in killing the false prophetess Sajah and also defeated the Banu Hanifa tribe and killed Musaylimah the Liar.
• Conquest of Iraq: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) chose Khalid ibn al-Walid to secure the borders of the Islamic state. He headed to Iraq and was able to conquer many of its cities. He laid siege to al-Anbar, and when it became difficult to capture, he ordered the slaughtering of weak camels and threw their carcasses into the narrowest part of the trench. Then the Muslim army crossed over them under the cover of a hail of arrows, and thanks to Khalid's strategy, the Muslims succeeded in conquering al-Anbar.
• Conquest of the Levant (Bilad al-Sham): Khalid ibn al-Walid managed to gather all the Muslim armies in al-Sham and divided the army into brigades to increase their perceived numbers in the eyes of the enemy and spread fear in their ranks. He assigned the right flank to Amr ibn al-As, accompanied by Shurahbil ibn Hasana, the left flank to Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan, and the center to Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.

Death of Khalid ibn al-Walid

The great companion Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab in the 21st year after the Hijrah in the city of Homs, in the Levant. When death approached, he dedicated his weapons and horse in the path of Allah.

Place of Burial of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid was a revered companion with significant contributions to Islamic history. He was nicknamed “The Drawn Sword of Allah”. Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned different views regarding his burial place:

• It is said he died and was buried in Madinah.
• It is also said he died in Syria in the city of Homs, which is the most widely accepted opinion among scholars and historians. This was mentioned by Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) in his book Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya, and his shrine is located at the gate of Homs.

Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) died during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) in the year 21 AH due to an illness. He was 60 years old at the time. Before his death, he expressed his sorrow at not being martyred in battle, saying:

“I have fought in so many battles, and there is not a handspan on my body without a sword wound, arrow shot, or spear stab. And here I am dying in my bed like a camel. Let not the eyes of cowards sleep”.