Khalid b. al-Walid: Difference between revisions

The most famous historical report on Khalid b. Walid is about his behavior toward [[Malik b. Nuwayra]], a [[companion of Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. Although Malik b. Nuwayra, his tribe and Banu Tamim tribe were Muslims, they were captured as slaves by Khalid. Then he ordered to kill Malik b. Nuwayra and his tribe members and afterward he committed adultary with Malik's wife (then widow) in that night.

He attended the [[battle of Badr]] in the second year after [[Hijrat]] and fought against Muslims. According to reports of Al-Waqidi he was captured in the battle.

It is reported that in [[Shawwal]] 6 (A.H.), Khalid b. Walid led an army of two hundred horsemen of Quraysh in order to prevent [[Prophet Muhammad]] (s) to perform [[Hajj]]. They moved from [[Mecca]] to Kura' al-Ghamim.

In 7 A.H. when Prophet Muhammad (s) and Muslims traveled to Mecca to perform 'Umrat al-Qada', Khalid left Mecca out of hatred toward Muslims.

Historians have reported different narrations on the date that Khalid b. Walid converted to Islam. Some said he converted to Islam in 5 A.H. after the [[battle of Banu Qurayza]], or it took place in the interval between the [[Hudaybiyya Peace Treaty]] (in 6 A.H.) and the [[Battle of Khaybar]] (in Muharram 7 A.H.) or in the seventh year after [[Hijrat]], after the [[battle of Trench]]. However according to a famous report, Khalid converted to Islam in the first of Safar 8 A.H. before the Conquest of Mecca.

Some months after converting to Islam, Khalid b. Walid attended the [[battle of Mu'ta]] in [[Jumada I]] 8 (A.H.). He was assigned in charge of Muslims army after the martyrdom of leaders of the army. He managed to bring the remaining Muslims soldiers back to [[Medina]]. Later Khalid said that in the battle of Mu'ta, nine swords were broken in his hands. It is said after the battle, Khalid b. Walid was titled as Sayf Allah. Some narrations stated that [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] gave him the title.

In 20th of [[Ramadan]] 8 A.H. as Muslims were trying to conquer [[Mecca]], Khalid was ordered by Prophet Muhammad (s) to lead a group of horsemen to enter Mecca through Lait region. He fought against a number of [[Quraysh]] soldiers in Khandama and killed some of them. When he entered Mecca and joined Prophet (s), he tried to justify his actions. Once Prophet Muhammad (s) entered [[Ka'ba]], Khalid stood by the door and did not let anyone to enter. Later Khalid was ordered by Prophet Muhammad (s) to lead a group of cavalries to go to Batn Nakhla where they destroyed the famous idol called al-'Uzza, the biggest idol of Quraysh tribe.

In the beginning of Shawwal in 8 A.H. Prophet Muhammad (s) ordered Khalid b. Walid to lead an army of 350 soldiers of [[Muhajirun]], [[Ansar]] and members Banu Sulaym tribe to Banu Jadhima near [[Mecca]] in order to invite them to Islam. Although they accepted Islam and surrendered, Khalid ordered to behead a number of them. When Prophet Muhammad (s) was informed of the incident, he dissociate himself from Khalid's action and sent [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] to pay [[diyat]] (blood-money) of the deceased. [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]] believed that Khalid killed some of Banu Jadhima to take revenge for his uncle, Faka b. Mughira.

In the same year, When Prophet Muhammad (s) was traveling from [[Mecca]] to the [[battle of Hunayn]] to fight against Hawazin tribe, Khalid b. Walid along with horsemen of Banu Sulaym were leading the army; however he ran away during the battle. It is said later he returned to the battle-field and fought against the enemies in the battle. Khalid was injured after killing some oppositions including a woman. Then Prophet Muhammad (s) ordered him not to kill children, women and slaves. Also When Prophet Muhammad (s) was moving toward [[Ta'if]] to fight against Thaqif tribe in 8 (A.H.), Khalid was marching on the front side of the army.

In [[Rajab]] 9 A.H. when Prophet Muhammad (s) was staying in [[Tabuk]], he ordered Khalid to lead an army of 420 horsemen toward Ukaydir b. 'Abd al-Malik, the Christian ruler of [[Dumat al-Jandal]]. After a short fight Khalid managed to capture Ukaydir and then they made peace with each other.

In [[Rabi' II]] or [[Jumada I]] 10 A.H, [[Prophet Muhammad]] (s) sent Khalid b. Walid along with 400 soldiers toward Banu Harith (Balharith b. Ka'b) in Najran to invite them to Islam. In the same year, he was sent by Prophet Muhammad (s) to [[Yemen]] to invite people to Islam. He stayed there and invited people to Islam for six months, but nobody accepted his invitations. Later Prophet Muhammad (s) sent [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] to Yemen and ordered Khalid to return.

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 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.

In the late 11 A.H. or in [[Muharram]] 12 A.H. Khalid b. Walid was ordered by Abu Bakr to travel from Yamama to [[Iraq]] in order to conquer regions under dominance of Iran (Mesopotamia). Historians have stated different reports on the date, the path, the sequence and other details of Khalid's battles in Iraq.

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.

According to a number of historians, Khalid and his soldiers set off from al-Hira or 'Ayn al-Tamr in Rabi' II or [[Rabi' I]] 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 Jumada I (or on the 2nd or 28th of Jumada II) in 13 A.H. and they managed to defeat them heavily.

In the early days of caliphate of 'Umar b. Khattab (middle of Jumada II 13 A.H.) Khalid b. Walid was relieved from his position as the chief of Muslims army and he was replaced by [[Abu 'Ubayda al-Jarrah]].

In the beginning of [[Muharram]] 14 A.H. in the battle of Marj al-Saffar, Khalid accompanied Abu 'Ubayda as his consultant. He set camps in eastern side of [[Damascus]] on 16th of Muharram and after laying siege to the city, they managed to enter the city peacefully in [[Rajab]].

Khalid defeated the Romans army in the battle of Fahl (in Jordan) in [[Dhu l-Hijja]] 14 A.H. or [[Dhu l-Qi'da]] 13 (A.H.). Later he was ordered by Abu 'Ubayda, to conquer [[Ba'albek]] and Buqa'a in 14 or 15 A.H. and then he joined Abu 'Ubayda and besieged Hems until people asked for peace.

When 'Umar b. Khattab visited [[Syria]] in 17 A.H. he apologized to Khalid b. Walid. According to one narration he was also appointed by 'Umar as the governor of a number of cities including Ruha, Harran, Raqqa, Talmazan and Amid, where he stayed for a year. According to another narration, Khalid was appointed by Abu 'Ubayda as the ruler of Qinnasrin. During that time he attacked border regions of Romans numerously in Anatolia and gained massive plunders. When 'Umar b. Khattab was informed of Khalid's generosities of plunders he gained, especially the large amount of money he gave to [[Ash'ath b. Qays]], he was irritated and ordered Abu 'Ubayda to discharge Khalid and investigate him about the money he collected. Later, half of Khalid's properties were seized by 'Umar.

Some historical reports stated that when Khalid b. Walid resigned or was dismissed, he returned to [[Medina]]. After some time he became ill and died there. 'Umar b. Khattab also attended his funeral ceremony. According to a more famous narration, when Khalid was removed, he came to [[Hijaz]] and performed [[Hajj]]. Then he moved to Hems where he lived in solitary. He chose 'Umar as his wasi (successor). In addition, according to another even more famous report Khalid passed away at the age of sixty in 21 or 22 A.H. and he was buried in Hems.