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Khalid ibn Al-Waleed As a successful military Leader

Khalid was one of the most successful military commanders of all time, according to the Molossian Naval Academy’s definition of military leadership.

Military leadership is “the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction, and motivation” Molossian Naval academy.

1. His background(Biography): i-  Name: Khalid ibn Al-Waleed ibn AlMughira Al Makhzumi

ii- Family: Khalid was raised in a rich honorable family, his father is Al-Waleed ibn AlMughira Al Makhzumi his mother is Lubaba bent Al-Hareth. He had 6 siblings. He was married and had 3 sons.

iii- Childhood and conversion to Islam: He was born 592ac his family (as in 6th century Mecca) sent him to be raised in the Bedouin, where he learned hunting, horse riding, wrestling and other war skills. Khalid was intelligent and brave compared with his equals. He converted to Islam in 629. He dead in 642ac.

2.His achievements: Khalid ibn Al-Waleed was a military strategic commander with very few equals he was a man who turned many a defeat / near defeat into glorious victories, as well shall see in the few examples I will be quoting.

He was undefeated in over a hundred battles, against the 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 maneuver at Walaja and his decisive victories at Yamamah, Ullais and Yarmouk.

3. His traits and behavior: a- He has Bearing: he acquired this trait from his raising in the desert as he can control his posture, overall appearance and manner physical movement. It is an outward display to others of the state of your inner feelings, fear and overall inner confidence.

b- Physical and moral courage: he fights more than 100 battles.

c- Candor, frank, open, honest, and sincere with his soldiers

d- Competent

e- Has Commitment to carry out all missions and to serve the values of the muslim army

f- Confident

g- Decisive, fair and Endurance

h- Initiative

i- Have Will and a Sense of Humor (no killing of babies; females; old ages; etc.)

j- Creative and have self-discipline,

k- Flexible.(change plans and tactics during the battles)

All previous traits and behavior are clearly appeared in all situations he had faced, and there are some examples in details in the next part.

4. Special skills: He was both an excellent strategist and a fierce fighter and army commander, as for example:

1- He was genius and made surprise attack to foil enemy force as in Uhud battle:

Prior to his conversion to Islam, Khalid fought on the side of the Quraysh. He saw that “The prophet” placed a group of archers on a nearby hill to give protection to the back of the Muslim army with specific instructions not to leave their posts under any circumstances. However, when the battle proved initially to be in favor of the Muslim army, the archers forgot the orders of their commander and left their positions. At this juncture, the military genius of Khalid ibn AI-Waleed led him to take a band of fighters with him around the hill and attack the Muslim army from the rear, where they least expected their enemy; hence, the loss on the part of the Muslims became a great one.

2- Khalid took the right decision on right time and had a wide sided vision:

He first took charge of a Muslim army at the Battle of Mu’ta after the three leaders appointed by the Prophet were killed. He successfully commanded a protective withdrawal. He found that, the only way to save the day was to retreat, but that was almost impossible, since the Muslim army was surrounded. It was here that we see the Genius of Khalid ibn AI-Waleed at Work. Though clever planning and courageous fighting, Khalid managed to make an opening within the lines of the enemy through which the Muslim army managed to get out safely, without enemy noticing.

-Khalid after the Battle of Mu’ta he was given the title Saifullah (Sword of Allah)

3- Khalid has the ability to Change tactics and Problem solving:

In Yamamah, Musilamah’s army won the battle in the beginning of the battle; Khalid went up to the top of a nearby hill and studied the situation to discover the weak spots of the enemy. He then re-organized his army.

4- Khalid sets the example and took responsibility:

He believed that the leader's place was at the top of the ranks to prove courage in the hearts of his soldiers.

5-Khalid delegated his authorities to subordinates:

He appointed a governor in every place he opened. He developed a sense of responsibility in his subordinates

6- An unselfish leader with high loyalty:

Khalid was the first general commander returns from an ordinary soldier and fights as a fighting leader at the rank of "soldier" as was his wars after his isolation by Omar ibn Al-Khatab.

7-Khalid’s Morale

He had morale (mental, emotional, and spiritual state of mind).His high morale strengthens courage, energy and the will to fight.

8- Proficient in Theory of the hammer and anvil.

Khalid was divided his army into two armies or several armies of the enemy and other army faces section from men "from the eye of the enemy then attach him from back.

9- Khalid Places science in the service of military action (such as inference, follow stars at night for army movements).

References: 1-  Men around the Messenger – Khalid Mohammed Khalid,

2-  Wikipedia.

3-  Molossian Naval academy web site.