Sulayman ibn Khalid

• Father: Khalid ibn al-Walid, the renowned military strategist known as Sayf Allah (the Sword of Allah).
• Mother: Kabsha bint Hawza ibn Abi Amr, a woman from the Banu Udhra tribe.^[3]

According to the historian Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Sulayman was the eldest of Khalid's children and was named by his father after his own name. He is classified among the "younger companions" (shabab al-sahabah), those who met the Islamic prophet Muhammad while they were children or youths.^[4]

• Muhajir ibn Khalid: Fought in the Syrian conquests and later supported Ali ibn Abi Talib at the Battle of the Camel and Siffin, where he was killed.^[5]
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid: A high-ranking commander and governor of Homs under Muawiyah I.^[6]
• Abdullah al-Akbar ibn Khalid: Participated in the conquest of Iraq and was killed in 12 AH (633 CE).^[7][8]
• Abdullah al-Asghar ibn Khalid: The youngest brother, often distinguished from his older brother of the same name.^[9]

With the exception of Abdullah al-Asghar, all of Sulayman’s brothers are recorded as having seen Muhammad during their youth.^[10]

Sulayman served as a combatant alongside his brothers and father during the expansion of the Caliphate into Iraq and Syria. During the conquest of Wardan in the Egyptian campaign, he was surrounded by Byzantine forces. Historical accounts describe a fierce engagement in which his right hand was severed; he continued to fight using his left hand until it was also severed. He was ultimately killed by a spear wound to the chest. The poet ‘Amr ibn Yasir composed verses in his honor:^[2]

O eye, shed abundant tears and mourn the beloved.

Lament for the one slain in the desert, alone amid vast plains. Cry for Sulayman and neglect him not; By God, his affair was a wondrous one. He showed no fear of enemies when he drew his sword, Though they were as numerous as grains of sand. O doves of the oak, lament a youth like a tender branch.

Know what befell Khalid; perhaps he weeps with flowing tears.

When news of his death reached Khalid ibn al-Walid, he wept deeply and recited an elegy for his son:^[11]

Tears flowed from my eyes as grief burned in my heart.

My heart shattered when I was told of his death. The world narrowed for me, and sorrow overwhelmed me. I will weep for him whenever night falls and dawn does not smile. He was radiant in beauty, his light now extinguished. Generous and fearless when battle arose.

Would that I had been present on the battlefield beside him.