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Tomb of Khalid-bin-Waleed (رضي الله عنه)

Grave of Khalid bin Waleed ra
Photo: theislamicjournal.com

Khalid-bin-Waleed (رضي الله عنه), the companion of Rasulullah (ﷺ) and the greatest Muslim general to have lived is buried along with his son in a corner of this mosque in Homs. The mosque was partially destroyed in the ongoing war in Syria but has now been renovated. Khalid’s tombstone depicts a list of over 50 victorious battles that he commanded without defeat (not including small battles). A sword of his was also on display as well as a shield that was displayed outside.

  • Prior to him accepting Islam, Khalid-bin-Waleed (رضي الله عنه) fought on the side of the Quraysh in the Battle of Uhud and it was his military manoeuvres that led to the deaths of 70 Sahabah.
  • After embracing Islam, Khalid (رضي الله عنه) first took charge of a Muslim army at the Battle of Mu’ta after the three leaders appointed by the Prophet (ﷺ) had been martyred. He successfully commanded a protective withdrawal. Khalid (رضي الله عنه) broke 9 swords during combat in the battle and after the Battle of Mu’ta he was given the title ‘Saifullah‘ (Sword of Allah).
Mosque of Khalid bin Waleed
The Mosque of Khalid bin Waleed before its bombing – Photo: alisariram.wordpress.com
  • He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time. He is noted for his military prowess, commanding the forces of the Prophet (ﷺ) and those of his immediate successors of the Rashidun Caliphate; Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab. He has the distinction of being undefeated in over a hundred battles, against the numerically superior forces of the Byzantine Roman Empire, the Sassanid Persian Empire, and their allies. His greatest strategic achievements were his swift conquest of the Persian Empire’s Iraq and conquest of Roman Syria within three years from 633 to 636 CE, while his greatest tactical achievements were his successful double envelopment manoeuver at Walaja and his decisive victories at Yamamah, Ullais and Yarmouk.
  • In 631 CE he participated in the farewell Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ). According to a narration, when the Prophet (ﷺ) shaved his head, Khalid (رضي الله عنه) took some of his hairs. When asked by the Prophet (ﷺ) the reason for this, he replied, “I will keep these hairs with me forever as a relic so that they will help me be victorious in battles.“ Later he sewed those hairs in his cap, which he always wore under his turban.
  • The tragedy of Khalid-bin-Waleed (رضي الله عنه) was to die on his bed. He himself narrates, I attended such-and-such a battle, and such-and-such a battle, proceeding (towards the enemies); and there is no spot of my body but that it has either a sword’s strike, a spear’s pierce or an arrow’s throw. And now I’m dying on my bed, in the same way as the camel dies. May the eyes of the cowards never sleep.”
  • Scholars have commented that the reason he died a natural death was that he was ‘The Sword of Allah’ and thus it was not possible for him to be killed by another man.
  • The Mosque of Khalid-bin-Waleed has been bombed during the Syrian civil war. This video shows the aftermath of the bombing of the mosque (in arabic):
Destruction of the Mosque of Khalid-bin-Waleed from the inside
Destruction of the Mosque of Khalid bin Waleed from the inside – Photo: frontstreetmagazine.com
  • The mosque has now been renovated:
Tomb of Khalid-bin-Waleed (رضي الله عنه) after renovation
Tomb of Khalid bin Walid (رضي الله عنه) after renovation

References:  Men around the Messenger – Khalid Mohammed Khalid, Wikipedia.

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

 

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