Khalid b. al-Walid: Difference between revisions

According to Al-Waqidi, Khalid was present in [[Hajjat al-Wida']]. He supported Abu Bakr after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (s) which secured him a high position; he was constantly supported by Abu Bakr later.

In Radda battles, Abu Bakr ordered Khalid to visit the Tay (Tey') tribe in Aknaf, then visit Tulayha b. Khuwaylid al-Asadi in Buzakha and finally visit Malik b. Nuwayra in Butah to invite them to Islam, if they refused the invitations he was ordered to fight against them. Later, Abu Bakr regretted sending Khalid to Buzakha. He decisively defeated Tulayha who claimed prophethood and suppressed his followers. After that regardless of the fact that Malik b. Nuwayra, his tribe and Banu Tamim converted to Islam, they were captured as slaves by Khalid. Then Khalid ordered to Kill Malik b. Nuwayra and some members of his tribe and he married Nuwayra's wife that night.

This wicked action of Khalid which is ignored or justified by some historians had infuriated a number of Muslims including his cousin 'Umar b. Khattab. They asked Abu Bakr to punish him, but he declined and said "it was a mistake". Later when Khalid returned to [[Medina]], Abu Bakr accepted his apology.

In the late 11 A.H. Khalid b. Walid went to Yamama and fought against Musaylama al-Kadhdhab who claimed prophethood, and his followers in Banu Hudayfa in 'Aqraba' region. Musaylama was killed and his supporters were decisively suppressed. After that Khalid b. Walid was deceived by Mujja'a b. Murara al-Hanafi and made peace with him. Then he married Mujja'a's daughter for which Khalid was condemned and punished by Abu Bakr.

According to Abu Bakr's order Khalid started his battles in Al-Abila, east of Basra near the Tigris River, and conquered regions in Mesopotamia including Madhar, Walaja, Ullays (Nahr al-Dam) and Amghishiya. In 12 A.H. after conquering Al-Hira, the capital of the Lakhmids, he managed to capture other important cities in Sawad through battles or peace.

In 25 of [[Dhu l-Qa'da]] 12 A.H. when Khalid returned Al-Hira, he secretly separated from the army and went to [[Mecca]] in order to perform [[Hajj]]. Then he rapidly rejoined his army. This action was condemned by Abu Bakr.

===Conquest of Sham (Levant)===

After conquering regions in Iraq, Abu Bakr ordered Khalid b. Walid to place Al-Muthanna b. Harith in charge of Muslims army in [[Iraq]] and immediately along with a number of soldiers travel to Sham (Levant) to support Muslim army. When he arrived, he took control of the army. Historians have stated the number of Khalid's soldiers, the path of his army and the direction they moved in differently.

According to a number of historians, Khalid and his soldiers set off from Al-Hira or 'Ayn al-Tamr in Rabi' al-Thani or Rabi' al-Awwal 13A.H. Regarding the harsh situation in preparing water-supplies for soldiers, they passed through harsh situations in the Syrian Desert from Qaraqir in east to Suyi in west in five or eight days with special guidance of Rafi' b. 'Umayr al-Ta'i and reached near Sham.

Historians have disagreements on the dates of the two crucial battles of Ajnadayn and Yarmuk. Based on historical reports Khalid and other Muslims armies near [[Damascus]] moved to southern regions to support the army of [['Amr b. al-'As]] in [[Palestine]] in order to suppress the Romans gathered together in Ajnadayn (a city in Palestine). They attacked the Romans on 18th or 28th of Jamadi al-Awwal (or on the 2nd or 28th of Jamadi al-Thani) in 13 A.H. and they managed to defeat them heavily.