The Companion Khalid ibn al-Walid

The Lineage of Khalid ibn al-Walid

He is the esteemed companion Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira ibn Abd Allah ibn Makhzum ibn Yaqzah ibn Murrah ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib, known as Abu Suleiman. His mother was Lubaba bint al-Harith, the sister of Umm al-Mu'minin Maimuna bint al-Harith. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, praised him, saying: "What an excellent servant of Allah is Khalid ibn al-Walid, a sword among the swords of Allah". His Islam occurred before the conquest of Mecca.

His father was a leader in the Quraysh tribe, known as the "Sword of Quraysh", and his lineage meets that of the Prophet Muhammad's lineage through Murrah ibn Ka'b. He was keen on raising his sons in horsemanship, warfare, and weapon usage. He was also staunchly opposed to the message of Islam and the Prophet before his conversion.

Characteristics of Khalid bin Al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, possessed strength in his physique, although there isn't a specific text indicating this except for his own statement: "Nine swords broke in my hand at the Battle of Mu'tah, leaving only a Yemeni scimitar". Some people confused Khalid's physical appearance with that of Omar ibn al-Khattab; may Allah be pleased with them, indicating similarity in their physique.

Khalid ibn al-Walid displayed a range of noble character traits, some of which are outlined below:

• Generosity and Charity: Khalid was known for his generosity and love for giving. He would bestow gifts upon the Arab nobles from his own wealth. He was a loving and sacrificing person, influencing others with his actions, hoping to attain rewards and blessings from Allah.
• Wisdom and Counsel: Khalid was a man of opinion and consultation, renowned for his depth of thought. He would only express his opinion after careful consideration and insight.
• Bravery: Khalid ibn al-Walid was a shining example of courage throughout history, steadfast and supportive of others. Abu Bakr said of him, "Women are incapable of producing the likes of Khalid".
• Knowledge: Khalid ibn al-Walid possessed knowledge of the rulings of jihad due to his necessity for them and his dedication to them. However, his knowledge in other sciences may not have been as extensive compared to that of other companions who spent more time with the Prophet Muhammad.
• Eloquence and Oratory: Khalid was a fluent and eloquent speaker. He delivered a speech after pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, praising him. One of the poets also praised Khalid's eloquence in his speech.

Family of Khalid ibn al-Walid

In the following, the wives and children of Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, are mentioned:

• Kabsah bint Huthah ibn Abi Umar: She bore him a son named Sulaiman.
• Umm Tamim al-Thaqafiyyah: She bore him a son named Abdullah al-Awwal, who died in battle in Iraq.
• Daughter of Anas ibn Madrik: She bore him Abdurrahman, Al-Muhajir, and Abdullah al-Akbar. Among his sons, Abdurrahman was one of the most prominent. He met the Prophet Muhammad, and peace and blessings were upon him during his lifetime. He also participated in the Battle of Yarmouk alongside his father. He also had a close relationship with the Caliph Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan during his caliphate and was one of the notable fighters in Sham. He witnessed the treaty of peace between Muawiyah and Ali ibn Abi Talib; may Allah be pleased with them both. Abdurrahman also fought against the Romans alongside Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, and received praise from some poets.

Islam of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid embraced Islam after he had passed the age of forty. This occurred after his brother sent him a letter, addressing him, saying: "The Messenger of Allah asked about you, saying: Where is Khalid? I replied: Allah will guide him. He said that his embracing Islam would be a great thing. If he were to set his hatred for the Muslims over the polytheists, it would be better for him. We have offered him above others. So, my brother, make up for what you have missed, for you have missed some righteous opportunities".

Khalid set out on his horse towards Medina, accompanied by Amr ibn al-As and Uthman ibn Talha ibn Abi Talha. They reached the Prophet Muhammad on the first day of Safar in the eighth year of Hijra. When they entered upon the Prophet, they greeted him, and the Prophet responded with joy. Khalid then asked the Prophet to seek forgiveness for him, and the Prophet did so.

Battles and Campaigns Participated in by Khalid ibn al-Walid

The Battle of Mu'tah

The Battle of Mu'tah occurred after the killing of the companion Harith ibn Umair al-Azdi, whom the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had sent to Heraclius to invite him to Islam and the worship of Allah alone. They killed him. Afterward, the Prophet mobilized an army from Medina towards the Levant under the leadership of Zaid ibn Harithah with three thousand fighters. The Prophet then appointed Ja'far ibn Abi Talib after Zaid, then Abdullah ibn Rawahaا. Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, was one of the soldiers in the battle. They reached Ma'an and stayed there for two nights, receiving news of the large number of Romans. The three leaders were martyred in the battle.

The flag was handed over to Khalid ibn al-Walid, who took it upon himself to withdraw the Muslims from the battle with the least possible losses. He reorganized the army with a plan to deceive the enemy into thinking that Muslim reinforcements had arrived. He swapped the right and left flanks of the army and changed the vanguard with the rear, showing his enthusiasm for combat and jihad, which stirred fervor among the Muslims. He launched successive rapid attacks on the enemy.

Khalid managed to withdraw the main Muslim force and the rear without the enemy being able to chase them, believing that reinforcements had arrived. They suffered fewer losses compared to the Romans. The Prophet in Medina narrated the battle's events to the Muslims until he said: "Then the banner was taken by Khalid ibn al-Walid, a sword from the swords of Allah, and Allah granted him victory". Hence, Khalid ibn al-Walid was dubbed the Sword of Allah.

The Conquest of Mecca

The Opening of Mecca took place in the eighth year of Hijra after the Quraysh broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet and the Muslims prepared to enter Mecca. The army was organized into four groups. The Prophet appointed Khalid ibn al-Walid as the leader of the right flank to enter Mecca from the south to the north. The Prophet instructed them not to kill anyone unless they fought.

However, Akrimah ibn Abi Jahl, Safwan ibn Umayyah, and Suhayl ibn Amr gathered with a group of polytheists to intercept Khalid ibn al-Walid and the Muslims. Fighting broke out between the two groups, resulting in the killing of thirteen polytheists and the martyrdom of three Muslims. All Muslim forces gathered in Mecca and began circling the Kaaba, glorifying Allah. Then, the Prophet sent Khalid ibn al-Walid with thirty horsemen to destroy the idol of al-Uzza, the greatest idol of the Quraysh and Banu Kinanah. Khalid accomplished the task after fighting the people until he destroyed the idol.

The Battle of Hunayn

Khalid fought alongside the Muslims in the Battle of Hunayn and was at the forefront. He sustained severe injuries because the Hawazin tribe had set up ambushes along the routes. Despite his injuries, he obeyed the Prophet's command and fought until victory was in favor of the Muslims.

After that, the Prophet Muhammad assigned Khalid to lead a thousand fighters on a mission to march to Ta'if to complete the Battle of Hunayn, as Ta'if was the next target after Hunayn.

The Battle of Dumat al-Jandal

The Prophet sent expeditions to the regions adjacent to the Tabuk region after he marched with the Muslims to fight the Romans upon learning of Heraclius's intention to fight them. One of these expeditions was the battle of Dumat al-Jandal, led by Khalid ibn al-Walid to Akidar ibn Abdul Malik, the ruler of Dumat al-Jandal, who was Christian. 

Khalid set up an ambush and managed to capture Akidar as a prisoner for the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet reconciled with him by accepting the Jizyah (tax) from him and released him. Then the Prophet sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to destroy the idol of Wadd in Dumat al-Jandal, but the people prevented him from doing so, and Khalid fought them until he destroyed the idol.

Najran and Yemen

The Prophet sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to Najran to invite the Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b tribe to Islam. The Prophet ordered them to be invited for three days and then fought if they did not accept the invitation. They embraced Islam and complied with Khalid ibn al-Walid's invitation, and he did not fight them. The news reached the Prophet, and Khalid remained in Najran, teaching the people about the religion and the message of Islam.

Then Khalid returned to the Prophet with the Muslims from Banu al-Harith. Khalid was also sent to invite the Hamdan tribe to Yemen, where they stayed for six months, but they did not respond to his invitation. The Prophet then sent Ali ibn Abi Talib to invite them, and they responded to him.

The Battle of Yarmouk

Khalid ibn al-Walid led the Muslim army in the Battle of Yarmouk, which took place in the thirteenth year of the Prophet's migration. It was named after the Yarmouk Valley, where the battle took place. Abu Bakr said about Khalid: "By Allah, Khalid ibn al-Walid has diverted the Christians from the whispers of Satan".

Khalid divided the army into three divisions, placing Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Amr ibn al-As, and Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan in charge. Khalid encouraged the Muslims to fight, clarifying to them that victory comes only from Allah. Victory was achieved for the Muslims against the Romans.

Other Battles Participated in by Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid engaged in over a hundred battles in his lifetime, both before and after Islam. The first was in Mecca, and the last was in Qinnasrin. Among the noteworthy battles he participated in are:

• The Battle of Uhud.
• The Day of the Killing of Musaylimah.
• Wars against the Apostates.
• The Battle of Zat al-Salasil.
• Al-Muzar.
• Al-Waljah.
• Muthaybah.
• Ain Tamr.
• Al-Anbar.
• The Battle of Aqrabah.
• Conquests in Iraq and Syria.
• Battles in Damascus and Homs.

The Death of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid passed away in Homs during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, in the twenty-first year of Hijra. Some sources mention that he died in Medina. He died at the age of fifty-five, leaving behind only his horse and weapons, which he had dedicated to jihad in the path of Allah.

When death approached him, he wept and said, "I have encountered such and such battles, and there is not an inch on my body that does not bear a sword strike or an arrow wound. Now I die on my bed like a camel dies. May the eyes of cowards never sleep".

Lessons Learned from the Life of Khalid ibn al-Walid

The companions - may Allah be pleased with them - are among the most prominent examples for Muslims, as they lived with the Prophet - peace be upon him. Here are some lessons and insights derived from the life of Khalid ibn al-Walid - may Allah be pleased with him:

• Individual dignity and redemption are realized through embracing Islam, returning to it, following its guidance, and adhering to its commands.
• Teaching future generations the importance of courage, heroism, and bravery. Ibn al-Walid - may Allah be pleased with him - provided great lessons in the arts of war, strategy, deception, and maneuvering in combat, devising plans with a comprehensive and insightful approach.
• For a believer, the worldly life is like a passage leading to the Hereafter.
• A believer persists in performing righteous deeds, aspiring for the pleasure of Allah - the Most High".

You can also read more about the remarkable heroic achievements, and the final resting place of Khalid ibn al-Walid — a legendary warrior whose legacy still inspires today.