Khalid Bin Walid - The Greatest Muslim Military Commander

 Khalid bin Walid (RA) was a companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a great warrior of Islamic history. Under his leadership, the Muslim Army conquered the Arabian Peninsula from the rebels and Iraq from the Persian Empire, both during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (RA). Despite losing his leadership during the caliphate of Umar (RA), he also played a vital role in the Conquest of the Levant (al-Sham). 

Khalid ibn al-Walid led more than 100 battles as a Muslim General, including around 50 large battles, and did not lose even a single one. He received the title of Saifullah (Sword of Allah) from the Prophet (PBUH) after saving the Muslim army from destruction in the Battle of Mut’ah. Later, he proved himself capable of this title through his battlefield brilliance, strategic innovation, and pivotal role in the early Islamic expansion. 

Life Before Islam

Khalid was born around 592 CE in Makkah. His father, Waleed bin Mughira, was the chief of the Banu Makhzum clan of the Quraysh tribe. The Banu Makhzum clan was responsible for military prowess. Therefore, Khalid learned military tactics in his early life as the son of the chief of the warrior tribe. Apart from his skill with the sword, lance, bow, and horse-riding, he was also a good wrestler. Physically, Khalid was tall, strong, and well-built with broad shoulders.

After the arrival of Islam, Khalid initially opposed Islam like most other people of Quraysh and his clan. He took part in the Battle of Uhud, where he raided the Muslim Army from behind through a narrow, abandoned mountain pass. Muslim archers stationed there had left their positions to collect the spoils of war, neglecting directions from the Prophet (PBUH). This attack was the major cause of Muslim’s near-complete defeat in this battle. He also participated in the Battle of Trench, his last battle against Muslims.

Life As a Muslim

After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the truce between Muslims and Quraysh allowed several people of Makkah to seriously consider Islam. Khalid (RA) was also among them. In 629 AD, he embraced Islam alongside his friends Amr bin al-As and Usman bin Talhah. 

Battle of Mu’tah

In 8 AH (629 AD), the north-Arabian tribe of Banu Ghassan (Ghassanids), under the protection of the Byzantine Empire, killed several Islamic messengers. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) decided to punish the culprits by sending 3,000 men in the expedition known as the Battle of Mu’tah. However, Muslims had to face the combined Byzantine and Ghassanid force of 100,000 (or 200,000 according to a few accounts). 

The initial three Muslim commanders, Zayd bin Haritha (RA), Jafar bin Abu Talib (RA), and Abdullah bin Rawahah (RA), lost their lives at the beginning of the battle. Then Khalid took the command and fought so vigorously that 9 swords broke in his hands. [1] 

He also changed the positions of his army in a way that the enemy thought the Muslims were getting reinforcements from time to time. This prevented the Romans from trying to encircle the Muslim Army. After a break in the fight at night, Khalid managed to withdraw his forces towards Madinah in an organized manner with only a few losses. On the contrary, the loss of the enemy was huge (several thousand according to Muslim sources). 

On the return of the Muslim Army from the battlefield, Muhammad (PBUH) became very happy with the outcome of the battle. Due to the bravery and wisdom of Khalid, the Prophet (PBUH) gave him the title of Saifullah (Sword of Allah). 

Khalid also took part in other battles during the life of the Prophet (PBUH). The most famous ones are the Battle of Hunayn, the Battle of Tabouk, and the Conquest of Makkah.

Ridda Wars

Abu Bakr (RA) became Caliph after the death of Muhammad (PBUH) in 632 AD. At that time, several Arab tribes rebelled against the Caliphate. Some people claimed false prophecy, and their tribes accepted their claim. Some others refused to pay Zakat (compulsory religious tax) and rejected mandatory prayers. Abu Bakr sent different Armies against these rebels and apostates in different areas of the Arabian Peninsula. These expeditions are collectively known as the Ridda Wars. Khalid bin Waleed was the commander of the strongest army whose aim was to fight against the most dangerous enemies. 

Khalid (RA) initially defeated false-prophet Tulayha and his allied tribes of Bani Assad and Bani Ghatafan in the battles of Bazukha and Gharma. Later, he defeated the Banu Saleem tribe in the Battle of Naqra. In the Battle of Zafar, Khalid defeated and killed the apostate tribal mistress Salma and many of her supporters. Banu Tamim of Nejd surrendered after the assassination of their apostate leader, Maalik bin Nuwayrah, by Khalid.

Battle of Yamamah

The last and most furious battle was fought against the liar-prophet Musaylimah in the Battle of Yamamah. The Muslim Army of 13,000 was outnumbered by the strong 40,000 army of Musaylimah, who had already defeated two smaller Muslim forces. The battle was a great success for Khalid and his army due to the demise of more than half of the apostates and their leader. As a result, the entire central and eastern Arabia was subdued to the Caliphate. 

Campaigns in Iraq Against the Sassanids

After the Ridda wars, the next mission of Khalid was Iraq, the Arabian area of the Persian Empire. The first battle, the Battle of Chains, was fought in Kazima (now in Kuwait). The name of the battle is due to the chained soldiers of the Sassanid Army. Most of the Persian Army, including thousands of chained soldiers, perished in the battle. 

In the Battle of River and Battle of Walaja, Muslims again defeated the numerically superior forces of the Persian Army. 

Khalid completed the first phase of the Conquest of Iraq with victory in the Battle of Ullais. Muslim forces annihilated the entire Sassanid Army and later captured the important city of al-Hira. These four battles were fought in early 633 AD. 

In August 633, Khalid had to move to Daumat-ul-jandal (now in Saudi Arabia) to help a Muslim Army against the Arab Christian tribes. He defeated the rebels in the Battle of Daumat-ul-jandal with his warfare skills. Later, he returned to Iraq and defeated the three different groups of the Sassanid Army in the battles of Muzayyah, Saniyy, and Zumail. 

Battle of Firaz 

Khalid fought the decisive battle of his Iraqi campaign in December 633 or January 634 AD. The Battle of Firaz was fought at the northern border of the Persian Empire along with the Byzantine Empire. According to some accounts, the combined opposition forces of the Persian Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Christian Arabs were at least ten times (150,000) compared to a smaller Muslim force (15,000). However, Khalid’s bravery and warfare skills once again succeeded in defeating the huge and superior enemy. During the fierce battle, the enemy forces lost nearly two-thirds of their men (100,000).

The battle completed the Muslim conquest of Iraq west of the Euphrates, putting them close to the Sassanid capital of Ctesiphon. Caliph Abu Bakr then ordered Khalid to move towards the Levantine front against the Byzantine Empire. 

The Desert March

While moving from Iraq to Syria, Khalid took a daring step that cemented his place among the most intelligent military commanders. Instead of using the long but reliable route around the desert, Khalid took the waterless desert path to reach the battlefield after six days and five nights. He took an unusual step of storing water in the bellies of camels for the journey. When needed, he slaughtered animals and used the stored water to save his soldiers dying from thirst in the inhospitable desert. 

Conquest of the Levant (al-Sham)

Before Khalid’s arrival in the Levant, four Muslim Armies were already present in the area to fight against the Byzantine Empire. Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah, Amr bin al-As, Sharjeel bin Hasana, and Yazeed bin Abu Sufyan were the commanders of these four armies. After arrival, Khalid took command of the combined forces.

In June 634, Khalid captured the Ghassanid forts of al-Qaryatayn and Hawarin after the Battle of Qaryatayn. In July 634, Khalid completely crushed the resistance of the Ghassanids after defeating them in the Battle of Marj al Rahit near Tadmur (now in central Syria). 

Battles Against the Byzantine Empire 

The Battle of Ajnadayn was the first major battle between Muslims and the Byzantine Empire in July 634. The battle took place in modern-day Palestine/Israel. The battle ended in victory for Khalid against a large Roman army, and the Muslims captured Palestine and southern Syria. 

In September 634 AD, Khalid captured Damascus (now the capital of Syria) after a siege. Later, he comprehensively defeated the remnants of the Byzantine forces in Damascus at the Battle of Marj-al-Dibaj. The Byzantine commander Thomas was also among the dead. It was Khalid’s last battle as commander-in-chief of the Muslim Army.

Removal from Command

After becoming caliph in 634, Umar (RA) replaced Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah (RA) as the new military commander of the Muslim Army in place of Khalid bin Waleed. However, the reason behind his removal was not politically-motivated. Instead, Caliph Umar wanted to establish the belief among Muslims that victories are not dependent on Khalid’s leadership but due to Allah’s assistance. [2]

Khalid bin Walid wholeheartedly accepted the decision and continued serving as an ordinary commander. Abu Ubaidah appointed him as his advisor and commander of the cavalry (horsemen). 

Victories After Dismissal

In October 634 AD, Khalid defeated the Byzantine garrison and saved the encircled small Muslim force in the Battle of Abu-al-Quds at Zahle (near Beirut, Lebanon). This victory completed the Muslim occupation of central Syria. In January 635, Khalid was again victorious against the Romans in the Battle of Fahl, fought at Fahl (now in Jordan). 

After capturing Fahl, Khalid had to move to Damascus again to prevent the Romans’ effort to recapture Damascus. He did so after defeating the Byzantine Army in the 2nd Battle of Damascus. 

Battle of Yarmouk 

In August 636,  Muslims and Byzantines fought their decisive battle of the Syrian campaign near the Yarmouk River. Abu Ubaidah handed over the command of the Muslim army to Khalid for the Battle of Yarmouk. After six days of severe bloodshed, the battle ended as another great victory for Khalid, in which over 50,000 Romans died compared to 4,000 Muslim soldiers. The victory resulted in the Muslim conquest of the Levant (al-Sham). 

In April 637 AD, the holy city of Jerusalem (now in Palestine/Israel) came under the administration of the Caliphate without bloodshed after the arrival of Caliph Umar bin Khattab. 

Later Conquests

Now the Muslim Army went ahead to capture the city of Chalcis. This city was vital for the Byzantines to guard their Asian capital, Antioch (near Antakya, southern Turkey). Khalid soundly defeated the Greek forces of Chalcis in the Battle of Hazir in June 637 AD. Greek commander Menas and almost the entire army of 70,000 lost their lives in this battle.

In October 637 AD, Muslims captured Aleppo (now in northern Syria) after three months of siege. Later, the Muslim army took control of Antioch after defeating the Roman army remnants of previous battles in the Battle of Iron Bridge.

On the orders of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, the Christian Arabs gathered to fight against Muslims as their last effort to regain control of the Levant. They besieged the Muslim forces in Emesa but had to retreat when detachments came from Iraq and Madinah for the Muslims. Khalid attacked the fleeing enemy, and the huge loss of men made it impossible for them to try any such adventure again.

In 638 AD, Khalid captured Germanicia, other western and central areas of Anatolia (Turkey), and the Byzantine-controlled Armenia. These victories marked the end of the magnificent military career of Khalid bin Waleed due to his retirement from military service by Caliph Umar. These victories also marked the end of the Muslim conquest of the Levant during the caliphate of Umar (RA). 

Khalid bin Walid’s Death 

Just after four years of his retirement, Khalid (RA) died in 642 AD due to illness. At the time of death, he expressed grief for dying in bed instead of achieving martyrdom, even after participating in around 100 battles for Islam. His wife consoled him by saying that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had given him the title of Saifullah (Sword of Allah) and no one can break the Sword of Allah. Khalid bin Walid’s grave is in Homs (Syria).

The grave of Khalid bin Walid (RA) is in Homs (Syria)

Khalid ibn al-Walid Tactics and Military Genius

The life of Khalid bin Waleed is full of valor and exceptional war tactics. During his ten-year military service for Islam, he led the Muslim Army numerous times and always remained successful. Muslim victories in the Arabian peninsular, Iraq, and the Levant are largely credited to his military marvel. Several of his leadership qualities make him on par with the best military commanders in history. 

• Mobility and Speed: He emphasized rapid movement and surprise, often covering great distances in short periods. The best example of this tactic was his desert march from Iraq to Syria. 

• Adaptability: Khalid was known for adjusting his tactics in real-time based on battlefield  conditions. A famous example is changing the position of his military in a way resembling receiving reinforcements. Later, his planned withdrawal in the vast desert saved a large part of his army and prevented the chase from the surprised enemy.

• Use of Cavalry: He was a master in the effective use of mobile cavalry units. This strategy allowed for flanking maneuvers and quick strikes during the Battle of Ullays against Sassanid forces. 

• Psychological Warfare: On several occasions, Khalid killed the commander of the enemy in a duel, resulting in a psychological blow to his opponents. Even his mere presence on the battlefield would often intimidate opponents and lower their morale.

• Decisive Action: He avoided prolonged engagements, preferring swift and decisive battles instead of letting the enemy retreat. Khalid encircled the enemy during the Battle of Ullais. Furthermore, he restricted their escape route by pushing them towards the river during the Battle of Firaz. On both occasions, he almost annihilated the enemy. 

Controversies

Khalid’s career includes several controversial episodes that have been the subject of historical debate.

Incident of Maalik ibn Nuwayrah

One of the most debated incidents involves the killing of Malik ibn Nuwayrah during the Ridda Wars. Khalid killed Malik after accusing him of apostasy and rebellion. However, some sources suggest that the situation was ambiguous.

Shortly after executing Maalik, Khalid married his widow. Critics argued that the execution was unjustified and the marriage inappropriate given the circumstances. However, Khalid killed him when Maalik refused to pay zakat, and his intentions towards the Caliphate were also suspicious. [3]

This incident led to criticism from some companions. Nevertheless, Khalid was ultimately not punished, indicating that Caliph Abu Bakr accepted his explanation.

Independent Decision-Making

Khalid’s bold and sometimes independent actions occasionally brought him into tension with political authorities. The first instance was Khalid’s expedition against the Banu Jadhmia. Muhammad (PBUH) sent him to invite the tribe to Islam. Despite their acceptance of his invitation, Khalid killed some of them due to the misinterpretation of their accent. The Prophet (PBUH) showed his displeasure at Khalid's grave mistake. However, He (PBUH) didn’t punish him and continued to give Khalid command to further expeditions. 

Another example was Khalid’s decision to perform Hajj after the Battle of Firaz to fulfill his oath. He went to Makkah without informing higher authorities while his troops were en route to the new battlefield. Caliph Abu Bakr pardoned him for this careless behavior. However, the second Rashidun caliph, Umar, removed him from command based on this and other similar  mistakes.