HAZRAT KHALID BIN WALEED (RA)

By SARIM AHMEDVI-B

Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) was born in a highly respected family of Banu Makhzum of the tribe of Qureysh in Makkah in nearly 585 A.D. His folks were one of the three primary people of its clan and were also in charge of the matters relating to battles. That is why he (R.A) grew up as having finest skills and abilities of warfare and later became earned the recognition of being one of the best commanders known in history. His father, Waleed bin Mughira was famous poet and was amongst the richest men in Makkah.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Conversion To IslamHazrat Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) had not accepted the Message of Allah SWT and His Apostle ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص late until after the treaty of Hudaibya between Madinans and the Makkans that occurred in 628 A.D. It has been said that Rasulullah ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص had told the brother of Khalid (R.A) that a brave and intelligent man like him should not keep himself away from uprightness for so long. So, when his brother told Khalid (R.A), he was swayed towards this kind gesture of the Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص and decided to embrace the Religion of Allah. When he (R.A) told his childhood friend Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl about it, he was opposed by him, although Ikrimah saved him from torment of Abu Sufiyan and other non believers by declaring him free to choose his faith..

In 629 A.D, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) set out for Madina to join the Muslims officially. On his way, he (R.A) came across two other new reverts, ‘Amr ibn al-’As and Uthman ibn Talha. On their arrival in the Holy city, they went straight to the house of Messenger ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص of the Almighty Lord and took an oath on His blessed hands. He (R.A) asked Hazrat Muhammad ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص to pray for his all wrongdoings and fighting against the Muslims in the past upon which he was assured of his forgiveness by Allah SWT as he had accepted the word of righteousness.

List of battles625 23rd March Battle of Uhud:Khalid ibn al-Walid defeats Muslim force.629 Battle of Mu'tah:Khalid ibn al-Walid leads a small Muslim Arab army against a much larger Roman army in his first battle against the Roman Empire, which results in a stalemate and Khalid being honoured with the title "Sword of Allah"633 April Battle of Chains:Khalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats a Persian army in his first battle against the Persian Empire

633 May Battle of WalajaKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats the larger forces of the Persian Empire using a double envelopment maneuver633 May Battle of UllaisKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats a larger army from the Persian Empire633 November Battle of ZumailKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats the Persian forces, conquering most of Mesopotamia (Iraq) from the Persian Empire634 January Battle of FirazKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats the larger combined forces of the Persian Empire, Roman Empire, and Christian Arabs, completing his conquest of Mesopotamia

634 July Battle of AjnadaynThe first major pitched battle between the Muslim Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid against a larger Roman army under Heraclius leads to a decisive Muslim victory for Khalid635 Battle of FahlKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats the larger forces of the Roman Empire under Heraclius, and conquers Palestine, Jordan and southern Syria from the Roman Empire636 August Battle of YarmoukMuslim Arab forces under Khalid ibn al-Walid crush a larger army of Byzantines under Heraclius and Constantine III

634 June–July Battle of BosraA small Muslim army under Khalid ibn al-Walid lay siege to the city of Bosra, decisively defeating a larger army of Romans and Christian Arabs

637 Battle of Iron BridgeKhalid ibn al-Walid decisively defeats a larger Roman army under Heraclius in his final battle against the Roman Empire, conquering northern Syria and southern Turkey.637 Battle of HazirKhalid ibn al-Walid defeats the garrison of Qinnasrin under Meenas at Hazim in Syria, wiping out the Byzantine force.

Within less than four years of his dismissal from the army, Khalid died and was buried in 642 in Emesa, where he lived since his dismissal from military services. His tomb is now part of a mosque called Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque. Khalid's tombstone depicts a list of over 50 victorious battles that he commanded without defeat (not including small battles). It is said that he had wanted to die as a martyr in the field of battle, and was apparently disappointed when he knew that he would die in bed. Khalid expressed the pain of this sadness through one last, anguished sentence:

I've fought in so many battles seeking martyrdom that there is no spot in my body left without a scar or a wound made by a spear or sword. And yet here I am, dying on my bed like an old camel. May the eyes of the cowards never rest.-Khalid ibn Waleed.

DEATH OF KHALID RA

The wife of Khalid, upon feeling such a pain of her husband told Khalid: "You were given the title of 'Saif-ullah' meaning, 'The Sword of Allah' and, the sword of Allah is not meant to be broken and hence, it is not your destiny to be a 'martyr' but to die like a conqueror."

KHALID BIN WALID MOSQUE IN HOMS, SYRIA.

THE END.