The village was situated on a slightly elevated hill on the eastern edge of the al-Hula Plain, overlooking the plain to the west. Its name meant "the tents of al-Walid," which may have been a reference to the tents of the army led by the famous Muslim military leader, Khalid ibn al-Walid (d. 642), who conquered Syria from the Byzantines. In modern times Khiyam al-Walid was classified as a hamlet by the Palestine Index Gazetteer, and its population was predominantly Muslim. It had a rectangular layout, with its houses lined up along the road leading to the village of al-Zawiya. As the village expanded new housing was constructed in the east, where spring water (used only for drinking) was more readily available. It was a healthier alternative to the water of the malariainfested marshes of Lake al-Hula, nearby. In 1944/45 a total of 153 dunums was irrigated or used for orchards. According to tradition, the tomb of a Muslim sage, al-Shaykh ibn al-Walid, was located in the village. The tomb was enclosed by a shrine that was part of a mosque.
