Khalid ibn al-Walid
خالد بن الوليد
c. 585 CE – 642 CE · 21 AH† †
† Hijri date derived by computation from the Gregorian/Julian date; it may differ from the transmitted date by a day or two.
The great commander on both sides of the early wars: the cavalry leader who turned the day at Uhud for the Meccans, then converted in 629 and led the Muslim armies at Mu'ta, in the Ridda wars and at the Yarmuk.
At a glance
- Roles
- Companion · General
- Tradition
- Sunni
- Era
- The Prophetic Era · The Rashidun Caliphate
- Region
- Arabia · Levant & Iraq
- Review
- Draft Completeness 3/5 · Help complete it
In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Wars and campaignsBattlesConverts and those who leave
Place in the story
- Military opponenttowardThe early Muslim community · 625 CE · 4 AH† – 629 CE · 8 AH†Historical
- Convert to Islam · 629 CE · 8 AH†Historical
- Companion · 629 CE · 8 AH†Historical
- Changed sides · 629 CE · 8 AH†Historical
- CommandertowardRashidun Caliphate · 629 CE · 8 AH† – 638 CE · 17 AH†Historical
Sunni (documented)
How others named them
- “Sayf Allah al-Maslul (the Unsheathed Sword of God)” — a saying attributed to the Prophet in the tradition
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Brief
Khalid ibn al-Walid was the most feared cavalry commander in Arabia — first for Mecca against the Muslims, then for Islam against two empires. Few figures in the museum fought on more sides of the story.
Life
A son of al-Walid ibn al-Mughira of Banu Makhzum, Khalid commanded the Meccan cavalry at Uhud — his flank attack turned the battle against the Muslims in 625 4. In 629 he rode to Medina and embraced Islam; within months the Prophet gave him command, and at Mu'ta he extricated the army after its three named commanders fell 1.
Under the caliphs he led the army at Yamama in the Ridda wars and at the Yarmuk against Byzantium 2. In the Ridda wars the sources record the disputed affair of Malik ibn Nuwayra, a tribal leader killed by his troops — an episode for which the Prophet himself is said to have disavowed Khalid's haste 2. Umar dismissed him about 638; he died in 642 CE, in Homs or Medina 1.
Legacy
Military histories still teach his campaigns; Muslim memory still argues about whether genius excuses anything. He wanted to die in battle and died in bed — and reportedly found that unjust.
For young visitors
Khalid was the best general of his age — and he fought on both sides. People still debate whether he was a hero or whether he went too far.
Opinions on the question
The question: How is Khalid ibn al-Walid assessed, and how is the Malik ibn Nuwayra episode told?
First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference
More opinions (2)
Academic viewSecondary opinion
Twelver Shia viewOther opinion
Connections
- Born in
- Mecca
- Died in
- Homs (Emesa)
- Child of
- al-Walid ibn al-Mughira
- Member of
- Banu MakhzumQuraysh
- Fought
- The early Muslim community
- Participated in
- The Battle of UhudThe Treaty of HudaybiyyaThe Battle of Mu'tahThe Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)The Battle of HunaynBattle of YamamaBattle of the YarmukThe delegation and mission to HamdanThe demolition of al-LatThe Demolition of al-Uzza and Major IdolsKhalid's mission to Ukaydir of Dumat al-JandalThe skirmish of al-KhandamaKhalid ibn al-Walid's command and the army's withdrawalReturn of the Mu'tah army to Medina and the Prophet's receptionThe siege of Ta'ifThe treaty with UkaydirKhalid's flanking manoeuvre at Uhud
- Converted under
- Muhammad
- Persecuted
- Malik ibn Nuwayra
- Fought by
- MusaylimaTulayha ibn Khuwaylid
People and things also explored
MuhammadMeccaThe Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)QurayshAbu Sufyan ibn HarbUmar ibn al-KhattabThe Prophetic EraAmr ibn al-As
Sources
- Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir (Bewley translation, Ta-Ha)
- al-Tabari, History vol. X: The Conquest of Arabia (Donner translation, SUNY)
- Momen, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam (1985)
- Ibn Ishaq / Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad (1955)
- Watt, Muhammad at Medina (1956)
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Khalid ibn al-Walid”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/khalid-ibn-al-walid/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.