Khalid

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Khalid (khä´lēd) (Khalid ibn al-Walid), d. 642, Arab warrior. He assisted the Meccans in attacking (625) Muhammad and the inhabitants of Medina after the battle of Badr. Khalid and the Meccans were victorious in the battle of Ohud but did not follow up their victory. In 629, Khalid accepted Islam. He became the chief Muslim general in the conquest of Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Persia. Muhammad gave him the title "The Sword of God."