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Khalid ibn al-Walid

خالد بن الوليد

A commander of Quraysh who became Muslim in 8 AH, was named a Sword of Allah, and led the early conquests.

SahihSee it in the Atlas
Known as
Sword of Allah
Died
21 AH

Life

He was Abu Sulayman Khalid ibn al-Walid of Banu Makhzum of Quraysh, and the nephew of Maymuna, the Prophet's ﷺ wife. He emigrated to Madinah as a Muslim in Safar 8 AH.

At Mu'tah, after Zayd, Ja'far and Ibn Rawaha were killed one after another, he took the banner and brought the army back safely, and the Prophet ﷺ called him a sword among the swords of Allah. He was at the conquest of Makkah and Hunayn, fought the apostates and Musaylima at al-Yamama, campaigned in Iraq, crossed the desert to Syria and fought in its battles, among them al-Yarmuk.

'Umar later gave the command in Syria to Abu 'Ubayda; al-Dhahabi gives the reasons as Umar's objection to Khalid's spending. He died on his bed in Hims in 21 AH, which al-Dhahabi holds correct over the report of Madinah, saddened that he had not died in battle though his body bore wounds from many.

Evidence

Sahih

Sahih al-Bukhari 4262

Grades
GraderVerdict
al-BukhariSahih (included by al-Bukhari in his Sahih) (Sahih)
Full narration

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ وَاقِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَعَى زَيْدًا وَجَعْفَرًا وَابْنَ رَوَاحَةَ لِلنَّاسِ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ خَبَرُهُمْ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ زَيْدٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ جَعْفَرٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ ابْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأُصِيبَ ـ وَعَيْنَاهُ تَذْرِفَانِ ـ حَتَّى أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Anas:The Prophet (ﷺ) had informed the people of the martyrdom of Zaid, Ja`far and Ibn Rawaha before the news of their death reached. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Zaid took the flag (as the commander of the army) and was martyred, then Ja`far took it and was martyred, and then Ibn Rawaha took it and was martyred." At that time the Prophet's eyes were shedding tears. He added, "Then the flag was taken by a Sword amongst the Swords of Allah (i.e. Khalid) and Allah made them (i.e. the Muslims) victorious

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