Khalid ibn Walid (RA) Biography: The Undefeated Sword of Allah (Sayfullah)

Assalamu Alaykum

Very few people in history have remained great, undefeated army commanders. Among them is one of the greatest commanders in the history of mankind. Yes, we are talking about Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه. Once the fiercest warrior of the Quraysh and known for his hatred toward Islam, his strategy during the Battle of Uhud led to the defeat of the Muslim forces. However, his journey later led him to embrace Islam and become one of the greatest military commanders in history. The life of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was not just about wars; it was about repentance, submission, and leadership in faith. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave him the title "Sayfullah al-Maslul," meaning "The Drawn Sword of Allah," because he was Islam’s greatest general. In this article, we will learn about the life story of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه.

NOBLE LINEAGE AND CHILDHOOD

Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was born around 592 CE in Makkah and was raised there. He belonged to a very noble Quraysh tribe, the Banu Makhzum clan. This clan was highly respected at the time because they managed Makkah's military affairs; they were called the "military arm of Makkah." Whenever a war broke out, the entire responsibility was handed over to the Banu Makhzum to fight. The father of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, one of the richest and most influential person in Makkah. He was a chief of Makkah and also a poet.

Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه lived a very luxurious childhood, yet he was raised under strict discipline. From a young age, he was trained in:

Sword fighting

Archery

Horse riding

Battlefield strategy

Leadership under pressure

For Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه, war was not just a profession; it was a part of his life.

KHALID IBN WALID: ISLAM’S MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY

Before embracing Islam, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was an enemy of Islam. As Islam gradually spread in Makkah, he felt it was a threat to the Quraysh and their honor, as Islam stood against tribal pride at that time.

During the Battle of Uhud, while still a disbeliever, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه commanded the Quraysh cavalry fighting against the Muslims. When the Muslim archers left their posts after the initial phase of the war, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه ordered his army to go around from behind and attack them. This was a sudden surprise attack for the Muslims, and in the confusion, they could not figure out what to do. Because of this, many Muslims were wounded, and the Battle of Uhud became a defeat for the Muslims.

Later, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه said:

At Uhud, I saw that Muhammad ﷺ was truly supported by Allah.

HIS JOURNEY TO MADINAH AND ACCEPTANCE OF ISLAM

After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه noticed that Islam was not spreading through hardship or war, but rather people were adopting it peacefully on their own. The brother of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه wrote him a letter encouraging him to accept Islam. Following this, in 7 AH, he set out for Madinah. He stood before Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, feeling ashamed of his past. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

Allah has guided you. A man like you could not remain ignorant of Islam.

 

Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه wept and embraced Islam.

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BATTLE OF MUT'AH

Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه participated in the Battle of Mut'ah. During the war, the three appointed commanders of the Muslim army were martyred. Seeing this, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه took over the position of commander and led the entire army. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

Then one of Allah’s swords took the banner, and Allah granted victory.

 

From that day on, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was called "Sayfullah," meaning "The Sword of Allah." Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه participated in many battles:

Conquest of Makkah

Battle of Hunayn and Ta’if

Tabuk and Dumat al-Jandal

Syria campaigns and the Battle of Yarmouk

He fought in many battles, yet he never lost a single one.

WHEN HIS POSITION WAS TAKEN AWAY

When Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was at the peak of his success, many people began to believe that they were winning wars because of him. Whenever he went into battle, victory was certain. Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه noticed this and feared that people might begin to rely on Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه and not on Allah.

Despite all the success, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه made the decision to remove Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه from the post of commander. Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah رضي الله عنه was then given the post. Despite this, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه did not argue or debate. He accepted the decision respectfully and said:

I fight for Allah, not for leadership.

 

After that day, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه fought in battles not as a commander, but as a normal soldier. He proved that he did not fight for status, but in the way of Allah; it did not matter to him whether he was a commander or just a soldier.

HIS DEATH: THE SWORD THAT NEVER BROKE

After a lifetime of clearing enemies in many battles, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه went to Syria. His body was covered in scars and wounds from swords, spears, and arrows. Despite all this, he was not martyred in any war but passed away due to natural causes. As his death approached, he looked at his body and said:

I have fought in over a hundred battles. There is no part of my body that does not bear a scar. Yet here I am, dying on my bed like a camel.

Later he said:

Let not the eyes of the cowards sleep.

His wish was to be martyred, but Allah had planned something else for him. Since Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was called "The Sword of Allah," it is clear that no one could break or kill the Sword of Allah. Allah showed that victory comes only from Allah, not from swords or death.

Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه passed away in 22 AH in Homs, Syria. The people of Syria were deeply shocked; people were weeping throughout the city, and there were tears in their eyes over his departure. Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said:

Women will never give birth to the likes of Khalid again.

He was buried in Homs, Syria. He left no wealth behind—only his horse, his sword, and his legacy.

CONCLUSION

This was the story of the life of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه. How a man who was against Islam and considered its message a threat later became "The Sword of Allah." He became one of the greatest military generals, receiving worldwide recognition beyond just the Muslim army. Even today, people remember the legacy of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه, the undefeated Sword of Allah.

That is all for today. We will meet with a new topic next. Take care of yourself and your family. May Allah forgive all our sins and accept our supplications. Ameen.

Assalamu Alaykum