الرحلةThe Journey

خالد بن الوليد

Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA)

Also known as: Sayfullah

c. 31 BH – 21 AH · c. 592–642 CE

Companions

Sayfullah, the 'Sword of Allah', the great general of the early conquests.

Khalid led the Qurayshi cavalry against the Muslims at Uhud, but he accepted Islam around 8 AH. At the Battle of Mu'tah, when three Muslim commanders had been killed, he took the banner and brought the army safely home. The Prophet ﷺ then gave him the title Sayfullah, the Sword of Allah.

Under Abu Bakr he led campaigns in Arabia and Iraq, then made a famous desert crossing to Syria. He played a leading role at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636. 'Umar later removed him from overall command, and he spent his last years in Hims. It is reported that he regretted dying in bed rather than on the battlefield.

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Life journey

  1. c. 592 CE Makkah مكة
  2. 629 CE Madinah المدينة
    Accepted Islam around 8 AH.
  3. 638 CE Hims (Homs) حمص
    Died 642 CE · 21 AH
    After leading campaigns in Iraq and Syria (633–638), he retired to Hims, where he is buried.

Places in their life

The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
Photo: Adli Wahid (minor modifications by Basile Morin), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
Photo: TheHadiRahim, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Military Expeditions, the Battle of Mu'tah)
  • al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk
  • Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Some reports say he died in Madinah. Birth year approximate.