Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid

From Foe to Sword of Allah

Khalid ibn al-Walid was of Banu Makhzum, the finest cavalry commander of the Quraysh — the very man whose flanking charge had turned the day against the Muslims at Uhud. After Hudaybiyya he saw that Islam would prevail and, in 8 AH, travelled to Madinah with Amr ibn al-As رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Amr ibn al-Asرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُShrewd statesman and commander; conqueror of EgyptMuhajirun and Uthman ibn Talha رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Uthman ibn Talhaرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُKeeper of the keys of the Ka'ba; chivalrous escort of Umm Salama in his pagan days to embrace it; the Prophet ﷺ prayed that Allah forgive him all he had done to turn people from His path. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 179–182 — Kandhlawi — Khalid's conversion in 8 AH and the Prophet's prayer of forgiveness for his past opposition.

The Dream That Carried Him to Madinah

In his own voice Khalid narrated: “When Allah decided that good should come to me…” — he saw a dream of fleeing a cramped, drought-stricken city for a lush, spacious land. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُFirst Caliph; the Prophet's closest companionKhulafa Rashidun · Ashara Mubashara · Muhajirun later interpreted the dream for him. His brother al-Walid رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat al-Walid ibn al-Walidرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُBrother of Khalid ibn al-Walid; one of the oppressed Muslims of Makkah for whom the Prophet ﷺ prayedMuhajirun then sent him a persuasive letter from Madinah. On the road he met Amr ibn al-As رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Amr ibn al-Asرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُShrewd statesman and commander; conqueror of EgyptMuhajirun and Uthman ibn Talha رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Uthman ibn Talhaرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُKeeper of the keys of the Ka'ba; chivalrous escort of Umm Salama in his pagan days; the three travelled together to Madinah and embraced Islam. 3 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 129–130 — Idris Kandhlawi — Khalid's first-person conversion narrative: the dream, Abu Bakr's interpretation, al-Walid's letter, the journey with Amr and Uthman ibn Talha.

The Sword of Allah at Mu’ta

Months later, at Mu’ta, when the three appointed commanders — Zayd رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Zayd ibn Harithaرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe freedman the Prophet ﷺ loved; the only Companion named in the Qur'anMuhajirun · Early Converts · Martyrs, Ja’far رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Ja'far ibn Abi Talibرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُCousin of the Prophet ﷺ; spokesman before the Negus and martyr of Mu'taAhl al-Bayt · Muhajirun · Martyrs, and Ibn Rawaha رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abdullah ibn Rawahaرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُPoet of the Prophet ﷺ; third commander and martyr at Mu'taAnsar · People of Badr · Martyrs — were martyred in turn, Khalid seized the standard at Thabit ibn Akhram’s nomination, rallied the three thousand Muslims against an overwhelming Byzantine host, and brought the army out intact. He broke nine swords in the fighting that day. The Prophet ﷺ — watching from his minbar in Madinah — announced that the flag had been taken up by a sword from the swords of Allah — and from that day Khalid bore the title Sayfullah. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 216–217 — Najeebabadi — Khalid takes the standard at Mu'ta, saves the army, and is named the Sword of Allah.

Conqueror of the Apostasy, Iraq, and Syria

Under Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُFirst Caliph; the Prophet's closest companionKhulafa Rashidun · Ashara Mubashara · Muhajirun, Khalid crushed the apostasy and defeated Musaylama at the bitter Battle of Yamamah, then carried the banner into Iraq and on to Syria, where his generalship crowned the Muslims with the great victory of Yarmuk — telling those who feared the enemy’s numbers that an army is made great only by Allah’s help.

Virtues in the Hadith

Of the day of Mu’ta the Prophet ﷺ said:

ثُمَّ أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ

”…then the flag was taken up by a sword from the swords of Allah, until Allah granted them victory.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3757 · Book 62 (Virtues of the Companions), Hadith 103 · USC-MSA: Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 102 · narrated by Anas ibn Malik رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Anas ibn Malikرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُServant of the Prophet ﷺ for ten years; a major narrator; the Prophet's ﷺ du'a fulfilledAnsar · Narrators of Hadith

Death & Legacy

The warrior who longed to die in battle died instead on his bed at Hims. Weeping in his final hours, he said there was not a hand-span of his body without the scar of a sword, spear, or arrow — yet here he lay dying as a camel dies; “may the eyes of cowards never know sleep.” 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 543 — Kandhlawi — Khalid's deathbed lament: covered in wounds, yet dying on his bed.