Ibn Abī al-Zinād said: He died in Ḥimṣ in the year 21 AH; before that he had come to Mecca on ʿumrah and then returned.

al-Wāqidī related: ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Riyāḥ told us, from Khalid ibn Riyāḥ, who heard Thaʿlabah ibn Abī Mālik say:

“I saw ʿUmar at Qubāʾ when a group of pilgrims arrived from Syria. He asked, ‘Who are you people?’ They replied, ‘We are from Yemen and had been residing in Ḥimṣ; on the very day we departed, Khalid ibn al-Walid died.’

ʿUmar then repeated the istirjāʿ (‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we return’) several times, lowered his head, and prayed abundantly for mercy upon him, saying, ‘By Allah, he was a sure shield at the enemy’s throat, blessed in every undertaking.’

ʿAlī said to him, ‘Then why did you dismiss him?!’

He replied, ‘I dismissed him because he was lavishing wealth on the nobles and eloquent men.’

ʿAlī responded, ‘You could have taken charge of the funds and left him in command of the army.’

ʿUmar said, ‘He would not have accepted that.’

ʿAlī said, ‘Why, then, did you not put him to the test?’ (1)

Juwayriyah narrated from Nāfiʿ: When Khalid died, he left nothing but his horse, his weapons, and a servant. ʿUmar said, ‘May Allah have mercy on Abū Sulaymān; he turned out exactly as we expected of him.’ (2)

al-Aʿmash narrated from Abū Wāʾil: The women of Banū al-Mughīrah gathered in Khalid’s house, mourning him. ʿUmar said, ‘Let them shed their tears so long as there is no throwing of dust or loud wailing.’ (3)

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Numayr, Ibrāhīm ibn al-Mundhir, and Abū ʿUbayd all said: Khalid died in Ḥimṣ in the year 21 AH. Duḥaym, however, maintained that he died in Medina.