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Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was from the well-known upperclass individuals of the Quraish tribe. His mother was Hazrat Bibi Lubaabah Sughra (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), who was the sister of Ummul Mu’mineen Hazrat Sayyidah Maimoona (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha). Amongst all the blessed Companions, he had a special distinction when it came to courage, battle strategy and planning.
Before accepting Islam he and his father were well known for their enmity towards Islam. In the Battle of Badr and Battle of Uhud he was on the side of the Kuffaar (disbelievers) and because of him the Muslims incurred a significant loss of lives.
However all of a sudden the sincerity for Islam grew so strong in his heart that in the year 7 AH he travelled by himself from Makkah to Madinah, presented himself in the Court of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and accepted Islam. He then vowed that for the rest of his life his sword would only become unsheathed to fight against the Kuffaar. And henceforth in every battle against the Kuffaar he was like a sword in a display of warrior-like magnificence. {Karaamaat-e-Sahaabah}
In the year 8 AH in the Battle of Muta when Hazrat Zaid bin Haarith, Hazrat Ja’far bin Abi Talib and Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaaha (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhum), the chief commanders of the army, became Shaheed one after the other, the Muslim army chose him as their chief commander. He led and fought with such courage and prowess that eventually the Muslims attained a great victory.
While this battle was taking place Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was in Madinah Munawwarah in a gathering of the Companions and while describing what was happening in the battlefield he referred to Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) with the title of “Saifullah” – “The Sword of Allah”. This is how he received this magnificent title. {Karaamaat-e-Sahaabah}
During the Khilafat of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), when the fitna of apostasy reared its head, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) accepted the responsibility of commanding the Muslim armies during those encounters, especially the Battle of Yamamah, and attained victory on every front.
Then, during the Khilafat of Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) even in the battles against the Romans he commanded the leadership of the Muslim armies and attained many victories.
Once, he took a small army and travelled to Syria to make Jihad against Jablah bin Aleem and his people, but he forgot his topi at home, which had the blessed hair of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). When the battle commenced, one of the Roman’s chief commanders got killed and this angered Jablah. He then ordered all his armies to gather and attack the Muslims all at once with force and aggression. With this attack the condition of the Companions became very precarious, so much so that Hazrat Raafi’ bin Umar Taai (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) told Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that today it seems as if it is the day that we would die. Hazrat Khalid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) agreed with him and said that it is because he forgot his topi with the Baal Mubarak at home.
Meanwhile back home that night, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) came in the dream of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), who was the commander of an army and told him, “You are sleeping! Go and help Khalid and his army; the Kuffaar have surrounded them.” Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) immediately woke up, got his army ready and they set off towards Syria, travelling as fast as they could.
On the way they saw a person on a horse, riding so fast that he overtook and passed them. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) sent a few men to catch up with that person to find out where he is going in such a hurry. When they eventually caught up and stopped the rider, they found that it was the wife of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). When she was asked as to where she was going in such a hurry she replied that when she heard the commotion of the army getting ready at night and heard Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) say that the Kuffaar had surrounded Hazrat Khalid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), she thought that Hazrat Khalid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) will never be defeated because he had the Baal Mubarak of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) with him. But just as she had this thought her sight went on his topi with the Baal Mubarak and she realized that he forgotten it at home. That is when she immediately took the topi, left home and decided that at whatever cost she must get the topi to Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), with his Duas, told her to go quickly and she immediately rushed off. Hazrat Raafi’ bin Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), who was with Hazrat Khalid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), says that they had lost hope when suddenly they heard the sound of Takbeer. When they tried to see where the sound was coming from they noticed that a veiled rider on horseback is chasing the Romans and they are running away from the rider in confusion. Hazrat Khalid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) got onto his horse and reached the mysterious rider to find out who it is. She replied that she was his wife and had brought his topi with which he always used to attain victory. He then put the topi on and the narrator of this incident took an oath and said that as soon as he put the topi on and attacked, the Kuffaar lost headway and eventually the Muslims gained victory. {Barakaat-e-Zulfe Ambreen}
It is narrated that a Christian Priest, whose name was Abdul Maseeh, brought such a poison that death would be certain for a person an hour after eating it. Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) asked him for that poison and in front him recited the following Dua and ate the poison:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ط
After seeing this incident Abdul Maseeh said to his people, “O my people! He is still alive after eating such a deadly poison! This is absolutely astonishing! It is better that you form a truce with him now, otherwise victory is a certainty for them. Consequently the Christians paid a large levy and formed a truce with the Muslims. This incident took place during the Khilafat of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). {Hujjatullah Alal Aalameen}
It is narrated that once, a person came to Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) with a water-skin filled with liquor. Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) made this Dua, “ O Allah! Turn this into honey.” After a while the people saw that the water-skin was filled with honey. {Hujjatullah Alal Aalameen}
SubhanAllah! Such was the extraordinary character and personality of the Sword of Allah, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
Due to being the “Sword of Allah”, he could not be defeated in battle. In the year 21 AH he became ill for some days, and on 29 Jamadiul Awwal, he passed away from this mundane world.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us an atom of the courage and bravery of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), Allahumma Ameen.
