September 6 2016
Khalid ibn AI-Waleed “The Sword of Allah” (d. 21 A.H.)
was from the tribe of Quraish.Moreover, born into a privileged tribe known for its military prowess.
Also known as Sayf-ul-llah. ‘The Sword of Allah.’
Also known for being the finest military commanders in history.
Of Khalid bin Waleed ,, it is said :
Khalid ibn Al-Waleed was a military strategist and commander with very few equals in human history, a man who turned many a defeat or near defeat into glorious victories, as well shall see in the few examples we will be quoting.
1. He commanded the forces of Prophet Muhammad
2. He also commanded the army of his immediate successors Abu Bakr and Umaar Ibn Al-khattab.
He fought over the Roman and Persian Empire. Moreover, he was able to defeat all their allies too.
His role with Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W):
At the beginning he opposed the Prophet. However, after converting he was a determining force in their victory at the Battle of Uhud.
HIS CONVERSION TO ISLAM:
In the eighth year after the Hijra. one day Khalid ibn AI-Waleed sat pondering on the new religion (Islam). He kept saying to himself, “The message is fast spreading, and the man is certainly a Messenger. What am I waiting for? For how long shall I postpone my conversion to Islam?” He wished for a companion to travel with him to Madinah, and he found two others who had the same thought. When Khalid arrived at Madinah and announced his acceptance of the Faith of Islam, the first thing he asked the Prophet was to pray to Allah to forgive him for his earlier aggression against Islam and the Muslims.
In the Battle of Uhud:
In the Battle of Uhad, Prophet Muhammad placed a group of archers on a nearby hill to give protection to the back of the Muslim army with specific instructions not to leave their posts under any circumstances. However, when the battle proved initially to be in favour of the Muslim army, the archers forgot the orders of their commander and left their positions. At this juncture, the military genius of Khalid ibn AI-Waleed led him to take a band of fighters with him around the hill and attack
the Muslim army from the rear, where they least expected their enemy; hence, the loss on the part of the Muslims became a great one. The Prophet was wounded and his uncle Hamzah killed, along with many other distinguished companions of the Prophet .
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘The better ones of you in the Days of Ignorance are the better ones of you in Islam when they understand (the religion).” These wise words of Prophet Muhammad were best proved in the case of our hero today, Khalid ibn AI-Waleed. For, it was Khalid ibn AI-Waleed who managed to cause the defeat of the Muslim army at Uhud.
The treaty of Hudaybiyyah played a major role for him to convert and accept Islam.
Moreover, after Abu Bakr became Caliph, he helped capture Roman(Battle of Yarmark in Syria) and the Persian Empire.
MAJOR EVENTS:
The first battle in which Khalid won the day for Muslims was the Muslims’ first encounter with the Byzantine army(in Syria) in the Battle of Mu’tah on the Northern borders of the Arabian Peninsula
We are told in Sahih Al-Bukhari that our hero used seven swords that all broke in that battle.
The Prophet , who was then in Madinah, was talking to his companions when he received the revelation about what was going on in the battle, and he informed them of the death of the three commanders. “Then,” he said, “a sword of Allah took hold of the banner and saved the day.” Thus, it was that our hero Khalid ibn AI-Waleed was given the title of Sayf-ul-llah. ‘The Sword of Allah.’
The genius of Khalid fascinated many Roman commanders, which led one of them at a lull of the fight to call out for Khalid. When he met him he asked, “Khalid. tell me the truth. Is it true that the Almighty has sent down a sword from Heaven to His Prophet, and he gave to you, and that no one can stand it?” Khalid could have used the occasion to frighten his enemy, but instead he told the truth and said, “No.” Then he explained how he came to be called the Sword of God. The Roman commander asked, “What are your preaching?” Khalid replied,: “We preach the worship of one God.” the Roman asked, “Will a convert today have the same reward from Allah like you?” to which Khalid answered, “Yes, and More.” “How come” inquired the Roman. “when in fact you joined the faith before him?” Khalid answered, “We lived in the life-time of Muhammad (S.A.W) and we saw his signs and miracles. It was very easy for someone like that to accept Islam and believe in its Messenger. As for you, you have not seen or heard the Prophet, but you believe in him in absentia. So your reward with Allah should be greater if you are sincere.” The Roman commander went next to Khalid ”and asked him to teach him Islam. He joined the faith and fought along the Muslim army only to die as a martyr In the Cause of Allah.
The heroic nature of Khalid is revealed in another manner in this famous battle of Yarmouk. For in the midst of that critical battle Khalid received a letter in which he was informed of the death of Abu Bakr and the instructions of the new Caliph that he make Abu Obaidahh in charge. To Avoid any possible confusion in the army, Khalid kept the matter in secrecy until victory was achieved. He then went to Abu Obaidahh to put himself under his command. To Khalid it made no difference whether he was in command or a soldier as long as the was fighting for the sake of Almighty Allah.
Khalid-bin-Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him), the companion of Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the greatest Muslim general to have lived is buried along with his son in a corner of this mosque in Homs which has now been partially destroyed in the ongoing war in Syria.
Khalid’s tombstone depicts a list of over 50 victorious battles that he commanded without defeat (not including small battles). A sword of his was also on display as well as a shield that was displayed outside.