Sulayman ibn Khalid
Sulayman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid سليمان بن خالد بن الوليد | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 612 Mecca, Arabia |
| Died | February 3, 642 (aged 30) Upper Egypt |
| Children | Muhammad, Ibrahim[1] |
| Relations | Khalid ibn al-Walid (father) Kabsha bint Hawza ibn Abi Amr al-‘Adhriyyah (mother) Abd al-Rahman (brother) Muhajir (brother) |
Sulayman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid al-Makhzumi al-Qurashi (c. 612–642 CE) was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He was the eldest son of Khalid ibn al-Walid and was known by his father’s name. He was a warrior who participated in the Islamic conquests during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab and was killed in the conquest of Upper Egypt in 21 AH (642 CE).[2]
Life and Biography
Lineage
- Father: Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira ibn Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Makhzum ibn Yaqza ibn Murrah ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr ibn Malik ibn Quraysh.
- Mother: Kabsha bint Hawza ibn Abi Amr ibn Adi ibn Umayya ibn Abdullah ibn Rizah ibn Rabi'ah ibn Haram ibn Dinnah ibn Abd ibn Kathir ibn Adhrah ibn Sa'd Hudhaym ibn Zayd ibn Layth ibn Sawd ibn Aslam ibn al-Haf ibn Quda'a.[3]
Early life
Sulayman was raised in Mecca as the eldest son of Khalid ibn al-Walid, one of the greatest Arab military leaders, who converted to Islam in the 7th year of Hijra and played a key role in the battles alongside the Prophet Muhammad, who gave him the title "Sword of Allah". Sulayman had four brothers – all half-brothers – as follows:
- Al-Muhajir ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid: a companion and among the youth of the Sahabah. He fought in the Syrian conquests under his father and participated in Ali ibn Abi Talib’s battles, losing his eye at the Battle of Jamal and killed at the Battle of Siffin.[4]
- Abdullah al-Akbar ibn Khalid: companion, participated in the conquests with his father, killed during the conquest of Iraq in 12 AH.[5][6]
- Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid: met the Prophet Muhammad and witnessed the Syrian conquests with his father. Served under Muawiyah in the Roman campaigns during Umar’s caliphate.[7]
- Abdullah al-Asghar ibn Khalid: youngest brother, named after his deceased brother Abdullah al-Akbar.[8]
All of Sulayman’s brothers, except Abdullah al-Asghar, saw the Prophet Muhammad while still youths.[9] Sulayman’s status as the eldest is confirmed by Ibn Hajar:
- Sulayman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid al-Makhzumi: His father named him after himself and he was the eldest of his children.[10]
Death
Sulayman fought alongside his brothers and father in the conquests of Iraq and Syria. During the conquest of Wardan, he was surrounded by Romans. His right hand was cut off, so he wielded the sword with his left hand until it too was severed. He was then stabbed in the chest and killed. The poet ‘Amr ibn Yasir composed verses in his honor:[11]
O eye, shed tears abundantly\\Then mourn, O eye, for the beloved
And lament for the slain in the desert\\Alone, amid vast plains, a stranger
Cry for Sulayman and do not neglect\\His matter is, by Allah, a marvelous affair
He did not care for enemies\\If he drew the sword from its sheath
Enemies feared his might\\Though they were as numerous as sand
O doves of the oak, lament then\\For a youth who was a tender branch
Know what happened to Khalid\\Perhaps he weeps with abundant tears
When the news reached Khalid ibn al-Walid, he wept profusely, then recited a eulogy for his son Sulayman:[12]
Tears ran down my cheeks\\And the heat of grief increased in my heart
My heart shattered when I was told of his death\\The world narrowed for me and my tears fell
Grief and sorrow increased in me\\Ask not about my sad heart
I will weep for him whenever darkness falls\\And the bright morning never smiled
He was a radiant beauty\\His splendor faded after the light
He was generous, the uncle a leader\\When the battlefield arose, he knew no fear
Surrounded by vile cavalry\\They controlled the sword and spear
Alas, I wish I had been present\\In the wings of the battle
I left them among the corpses\\Where birds were driven over plains and mountains
By the right of those who performed pilgrimage to his house\\The Prophet sent the utmost hope
To slay a thousand of them in the battlefield\\If Allah wills and destiny allows
References
- ^ Al-Amri, *Tribe of Banu Khalid in History*, p. 74. Archived at Web Archive, 9 March 2020.
- ^ Waqudi – Conquests of Syria, vol. 1, p. 49. Archived 4 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ibn Asakir - History of Damascus - vol. 33 - p. 463 Archived 9 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Asad al-Ghaba - Ibn al-Athir - vol. 4 - p. 423 Archived 17 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nasab Quraysh - Al-Zubayr ibn Bakkar - p. 327 Archived 4 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ibn Hazm - Jamharat Ansab al-Arab - p. 147 Archived 8 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ al-Isabah - Ibn Hajar - vol. 5 - p. 27 Archived 17 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Khalid and Umar - Critical Study in Islamic Sources - Klaus Klair - p. 182 Archived 9 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ibn Abd al-Barr - Al-Istiyab - vol. 4 - p. 1454 Archived 5 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ al-Isabah - Ibn Hajar - vol. 3 - p. 201 Archived 4 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Waqudi - Conquests of Syria - pp. 245–246 Archived 9 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Waqudi - Conquests of Syria - vol. 2 - p. 267 Archived 27 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine