khalid ibn Al walid - For the love of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

Khālid ibn al-Walīd (592-642) (Arabic: خالد بن الوليد) also known as Sayf-'ullah al-Maslul (the Drawn Sword of God, God's Withdrawn Sword, or simply Sword of God), was one of the two famous Muslim generals of the Islamic Rashidun army during the Muslim conquests of the 7th Century. (See also: 'Amr ibn al-'As.) He is noted for his military prowess, commanding the forces of Muhammad(Peace be upon him) 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, Sassanid Persian Empire, and their allies, he is regarded as one of the finest military commanders in history. His greatest strategic achievements were his swift conquest of the Persian Empire and conquest of Roman Syria within three years from 633 to 636, while his greatest tactical achievements were his successful double envelopment maneuver at Walaja and his decisive victories at Firaz, Ullais and Yarmouk.

Khalid ibn Walid was from the Meccan tribe of Quraish, who opposed Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and he played a vital role in their victory at the Battle of Uhud. He accepted Islam, however, and joined Muhammad(Peace be upon him) after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and commanded various expeditions for him, such as the Battle of Mu'tah. After Muhammad(Peace be upon him)'s death, he played a key role in commanding Medinan forces for Abu Bakr in the Ridda wars, the capture of the Sassanid Arab client Kingdom of Al-Hirah, and the defeat of the Sassanid Persian forces during his conquest of the Persian Empire. He then crossed the desert to capture the Byzantine Arab client state of the Ghassanids during his conquest of Roman Syria. Even though Umar later relieved him of high command, he remained the effective leader of the forces arrayed against the Byzantines during the early stages of the Byzantine-Arab Wars. Under his command, Damascus was captured in 635 and the key Arab victory against the Roman Byzantine forces was achieved at the Battle of Yarmuk (636), which led to the conquest of the Bilad al-Sham (Levant). (less info)