Biography of Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed, may Allaah be pleased with him

17-2-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Who was Khalid Bin Waleed, may Allaah be pleased with him?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

He is Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed ibn Al-Mugheerah Al-Qurashi Al-Makhzoomi Abu Sulaymaan, the unsheathed sword of Allaah, whom He sent as a brave warrior against the polytheists. He embraced Islam in the year 7 A.H. after the conquest of Khaybar, and it was said that he embraced Islam before the conquest of Khaybar.

After pledging allegiance to the Messenger of Allaah he took part in the battle of Mu’tah along with Zayd ibn Haarithah. When the third Ameer (commander), 'Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah, was martyred, he took the flag without being commanded to do so, and Allaah made him victorious… as related in Saheeh Al-Bukhari.

Furthermore, At-Tirmithi reported with a trustworthy chain of narrators – as stated by Ibn Hajar – that Abu Hurayrah narrated, “We settled down at a given place with the Messenger of Allaah and people were passing by, and the Prophet would ask, 'Who is that?' I would say, 'So and so,' until Khaalid passed by, and the Prophet asked, 'Who is that?' I said, 'It is Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed.' So, he [the Prophet] said, 'What an excellent slave of Allaah he is; he is one of the swords of Allaah.'”

Also, At-Tabaraani reported in al-Kabeer, and Ibn Sa'd in At-Tabaqaat, and Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, that the Prophet said, “Do not harm Khaalid, as he is one of the swords of Allaah, whom He had sent (as a tough and harsh man) against the unbelievers.” The hadeeth has an authentic chain of narrators, but Al-Bukhari and Muslim did not report it; it was narrated from 'Abdullaah ibn Abi Awfa as a marfoo' hadeeth.

Moreover, Qays ibn Abi Haazem narrated that Khaalid ibn al-Waleed said, “On the day of Mu'tah, nine swords were broken in my hand, and only a Yemenite sword of mine remained unbroken.”

Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed partook in the Conquest of Makkah and bravely fought therein, and he also participated in the battle of Hunayn and Taa’if, and the Prophet sent him to Al-Uzza [a polytheist idol] and he destroyed it. The Prophet also sent him to Ukaydir Doomah, whom Khaalid took as a prisoner; so he was brought to the Prophet and he [the Prophet] spared his life in return for paying jizyah (tax paid by disbelievers instead of zakah).

Also, Abu Bakr sent him to fight the people who apostated, and he bravely fought against them, and then he appointed him as the leader in the war against the Persians and the Romans, and he bravely fought against them and conquered Damascus.

The book of Jihad authored by Ibn Al-Mubaarak reads:

“Abu Waa’il said, 'When Khalid ibn Al-Waleed was about to die, he said, 'I sought to die in wars (as a martyr), but unfortunately I am predestined to only die on my bed, and I do not have any deed by which I seek the reward of Allaah after 'Laa Ilaaha illa Allaah' except a night that I had spent wearing my shield and protecting myself from the pouring rain and waiting for dawn so we would attack the disbelievers … If I die, take my weapons and my horse and use them in the Cause of Allaah.''”

Besides, Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet sent ‘Umar for (collecting) sadaqah (zakah), and some people said that Ibn Jameel, Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed and Al-'Abbas the uncle of the Prophet refused to pay it. The hadeeth reads: "As regards Khaalid, you are unjust to him, for he reserved his armors and weapons for the sake of Allaah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Moreover, Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya reported with an authentic chain of narrators – as stated by Ibn Hajar – from Qutaybah, who said, “A man came to Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed with a water skin of alcohol, and Khaalid said, “O Allaah, turn it into honey, so it became honey.”

Moreover, Abu Ya’la and others narrated from Abu Safar who said, “When Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed came to Al-Harrah (a region in Madeenah), someone brought poison to him, so Khaalid put it in his palm and then mentioned the name of Allaah (i.e. he said: Bismillaah) and drank it, and it did not harm him.”

Ibn Hajar said, “Ibn Sa’d narrated it from two other routes (chains of narration).”

Allaah knows best.