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خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيد

رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ

Khalid ibn al-Walid

Sayf Allah · Commander · Accepted Islam before Makkah opened

may Allah be pleased with him

Quraysh — Banu Makhzum · Makkah, Madinah, Iraq and Syria, up to about 21 AH

He commanded Quraysh's cavalry against the Muslims at Uhud before accepting Islam, and then led their armies. He is remembered as much for how he took being removed from command as for anything he did while holding it.

Learn his storyQuick quiz

Known for

  • Sayf Allah — a sword among the swords of Allah

    The phrase comes from the report of Mu'tah, where the Prophet ﷺ described the man who took up the banner as a sword among the swords of Allah.

  • He commanded Quraysh's cavalry against the Muslims at Uhud

    Before accepting Islam, he led the cavalry manoeuvre that turned the battle of Uhud in 3 AH.

  • He took command at Mu'tah

    At Mu'tah in 8 AH, after the appointed commanders were killed one after another, he took the banner and brought the army out.

  • He was removed from command and kept serving

    Umar removed him from overall command during his caliphate. Khalid accepted it and continued to fight under the man appointed over him.

Story

His story in moments

Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.

  1. Removed from commandDuring Umar's caliphate, while Khalid was leading in Syria.During Umar's caliphate1 min read

In full

Life & legacy

Against the Muslims, then with them

Khalid was from Banu Makhzum, a leading Makkan clan with a military reputation, and he was one of Quraysh's most capable commanders. At Uhud in 3 AH it was his cavalry manoeuvre around the Muslim position that turned the day against them.

He accepted Islam in the period between Hudaybiyyah and the opening of Makkah, and travelled to Madinah to do so. Within a short time he was commanding Muslim forces.

Command

At Mu'tah in 8 AH the appointed commanders were killed one after another. Khalid took the banner and brought the army out. It is from this episode that the phrase Sayf Allah is reported.

Under Abu Bakr he commanded in the Riddah campaigns against the tribes that broke away after the Prophet's ﷺ death, and afterwards in Iraq and Syria. He was then removed from overall command by Umar and continued to serve under the commander appointed in his place.

The sources give differing explanations for the removal, and SahabaMate does not choose between them. What they agree on is Khalid's response: he accepted it without contest and carried on. He died in about 21 AH, at Homs on the usual report.

How the sources describe him

  • Quick to read a situation and change plan

  • He put obedience above his own standing

Connect

People around him

Alongside

  • The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion

    He accepted Islam in Madinah before the opening of Makkah and was given command soon after.

  • Umar ibn al-KhattabعُمَرCompanion

    Removed him from overall command during his caliphate.

  • Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrahأَبُو عُبَيْدَةCompanion

    Appointed over him in Syria by Umar. Khalid served under him without contest.

  • Abu Bakr as-Siddiqأَبُو بَكْرCompanion

    He commanded in the Riddah campaigns under Abu Bakr's caliphate.

Full timeline

  1. 3 AH

    Commands Quraysh's cavalry against the Muslims at Uhud

  2. Between Hudaybiyyah and the opening of Makkah

    Accepts Islam and travels to Madinah

  3. 8 AH

    Takes command at Mu'tah

  4. During Umar's caliphate reports differThe accounts do not agree on when, and some distinguish an early transfer of command from a later final dismissal.

    Removed from overall command by Umar; continues to serve

  5. Commonly reported as around 21 AH approximate, reports differReports give 21 and 22 AH, and a minority place his death at Madinah.

    Dies at Homs

Part of

Sources & review

Draft content — undergoing review

This content was written for SahabaMate and has not yet been checked by a reviewer against the works below. Treat it as a starting point, not a citation.

  • Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري

    Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari

  • As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية

    Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq

  • Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى

    Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd

  • Tarikh ar-Rusul wa'l-Mulukتاريخ الرسل والملوك

    Classical history · Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari

  • Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة

    Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani

  • Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء

    Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi

  • SahabaMate editorial summary

    Editorial summary

Where a reference names a work without a page or number, that is deliberate: SahabaMate does not publish a locator it cannot stand behind.

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