"I die even as a camel dies. I die in bed, in shame. May the eyes of cowards never find rest in sleep!" These were the last words of a man who did not have a span of a hand on his body that was not scarred by a wound from a sword or arrow or spear. A man who said ; "I have sought martyrdom in a hundred battles. Why could I not have died in battle?" "You could not die in battle", replied his friend. "You must understand that when the Messenger of Allah, on whom be the blessings of Allah and peace, named you Saifullah - the Sword of Allah, he predetermined that you would not fall in battle. If you had been killed by an unbeliever it would have meant that Allah's sword had been broken by an enemy of Allah; and that could never be." Khalid-bin-Walid is the only man to have inflicted a tactical defeat on the Muslim armies under the Holy Prophet at the Battle of Uhud. Khalid, although initially bitterly opposed to Islam, was noted for many excellent qualities. He was an extraordinarily resolute and temperate man. This prompted the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to mention that Khalid bin Walid could not be totally unmoved by the message of Islam. Indeed, when this was conveyed to Khalid, it changed his heart and he came to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and gave his allegiance to Islam. He recited the shahada and requested the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to ask Allah to forgive him for his early antagonism towards Islam. From that day onwards Khalid bin Walid became the foremost champion of Islam. He fought many decisive battles, humbling his opponents and bringing victory to the religion of Islam. He was the first Muslim commander to leave Arabia to conquer foreign lands and humble two great empires. Almost all his battles are studies in military leadership, especially Uhud, Kazima, Walaja, Muzayyah, Ajnadein and Yarmuk.
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