The Biography of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh

Praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone Who has no partner with Him. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger:

These are some excerpts from the biography of a great figure. One of the heroes of Islam, one of its knights, and an honorable Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We excerpt lessons and examples from his biography.

This honorable Companion fought in the Battle of Badr, Uhud, and in the Battle of the Trench and he did not fear anyone. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told the people that Sa`d shall be one of the people of Paradise, and told them also that the Throne of Allah has shaken to his death. He embraced Islam in Madinah (Medina) at the hands of Mus`ab ibn `Umayr.

Ibn Hajar said: (He was one of the greatest people who benefitted Islam and he had many merits.)[1]

Adh-Dhahaby said about his biography: (The master, the great, and the martyr, Abu `Amr Sa`d ibn Mu`adh ibn An-Nu`man Al Ansary Al Awsy Al Ashhaly was white, tall, handsome, of nice face, and with good-looking beard.)[2]

`Aishah said: (There were three men in the tribe of Banu `Abdul-Ashhal who were better than anyone: Sa`d ibn Mu`adh, Usayd ibn Hudayr, and `Abbad ibn Bishr.)[3]

Ibn Ishaq said: (When he embraced Islam, he addressed his people saying: O people of Banu `Abdul-Ashhal, what do you say about me? They said: "You are our master and the best among us." He said: "I forbid myself to speak to any of you, men and women, until you believe in Allah and His Messenger." Sa`d said: "By Allah, there was neither a man nor a woman in Banu `Abdul-Ashhal but embraced Islam.)[4]

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud narrated: Sa`d ibn Mu`adh came to Makkah with the intention of performing `Umrah (minor pilgrimage), and stayed at the house of Umayyah ibn Khalaf Abu Safwan, for Umayyah himself used to stay at Sa`d's house when he passed by Madinah on his way to Sham (the Levant). Umayyah said to Sa`d: "Will you wait till midday when the people are (at their homes), then you may go and perform the Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Ka`bah?" So, while Sa`d was circulating around the Ka`bah, Abu Jahl came and asked: "Who is that who is performing Tawaf?" Sa`d replied: "I am Sa`d." Abu Jahl said: "Are you circumambulating the Ka`bah safely although you have given refuge to Muhammad and his Companions?" Sa`d said: "Yes," and they started quarreling. Umayyah said to Sa`d: "Do not shout at Abul-Hakam (i.e. Abu Jahl), for he is the chief of the valley (of Makkah)." Sa`d then said (to Abu Jahl). 'By Allah, if you prevent me from performing the Tawaf around the Ka`bah, I will spoil your trade with the Levant." Umayyah kept on saying to Sa`d: "Do not raise your voice," and kept on taking hold of him. Sa`d became furious and said (to Umayyah): "Keep away from me, for I have heard Muhammad (peace be upon him) saying that he will kill you." Umayyah said: "Will he kill me?" Sa`d said: "Yes." Umayyah said: "By Allah, if Muhammad says that, he never tells a lie." Umayyah went to his wife and said to her: "Do you know what my brother from Yathrib (i.e. Medina) has said to me?" She said: "What has he said?" He said: "He claims that he has heard Muhammad saying that he will kill me." She said: By Allah! Muhammad never tells lies. So, when the infidels started to proceed to Badr (Battle) and declared war (against the Muslims), his wife said to him: "Do not you remember what your brother from Yathrib told you?" Umayyah decided not to go but Abu Jahl said to him: "You are from the nobles of the valley (of Makkah), so you should accompany us for a day or two." He went with them and thus Allah caused him to die.[5]

The previous situation shows how brave Sa`d was, how powerful he was against the disbelievers, and how proud he was of his religion. Although he was alone in Makkah, he threatened the masters of Makkah in their homeland.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained to the people that Sa`d shall be one of the people of Paradise. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was gifted a garment of sarcenet and he prohibited the use of silk. The people admired it, whereupon he said: "By Him in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the kerchiefs of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh in Paradise are better than this.”[6]

Of his great brave situations:

`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: Sa`d was wounded in the Battle of Khandaq (i.e. Trench) when a man from Quraysh called Hibban ibn Al `Araqa to hit him (with an arrow) in Al Akhal[7]. So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) pitched a tent (for Sa`d) in the masjid so that he could be near to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to visit. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned from the (Battle) of Al Khandaq and laid down his arms and took a bath, thereupon Gabriel came to him while he (i.e. Gabriel) was shaking the dust off his head and said: "You have laid down the arms?" By Allah, I have not laid them down. Go out to them (for attack)." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Where?" Gabriel pointed towards Banu Qurayzah. So, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) went to besiege them (i.e. Banu Qurayzah). Then, they surrendered to the Prophet's judgment but he directed them to Sa`d to give his verdict concerning them. Sa`d said: "My judgment is that their warriors should be killed, their women and children should be taken as captives, and their properties should be distributed (among worriers)."

Hisham said: My father said: "I was told that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: {Sa`d judged among them with the ruling that Allah would have sentenced them.}

Moreover, Sa`d said while his injury was about to be cured: “O Allah, surely You know that nothing is dearer to me than that I should fight for Your Sake against the people who disbelieved Your Messenger (peace be upon him) and turned him out (from his native place). If anything yet remains to be decided from the war against the Quraysh, spare my life so that I may fight against them in Your Cause. O Lord, I think You have ended the war between us and them. If You have done so, open my wound (so that it may discharge) and cause my death thereby. So, the wound begin to bleed from the front part of his neck. The people were not scared except when the blood flowed towards them, and in the masjid along with Sa`d's tent was the tent of Banu Ghifar. They said: O people of the tent, what is it that is coming to us from you? Lo! it was Sa'd's wound that was bleeding and he died thereof. “[8]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) grieved so much for the Sa`d’s death. Moreover, he told the people that the Throne of Allah has shaken because of his death. Gabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Throne (of Allah) has shaken at the death of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh.”[9]

Despite the great status that Sa`d had in Islam, he was not safe from the embrace of the grave. `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, graves embrace every dead person and if anyone will survive of it, it will be Sa`d ibn Mu`adh."[10]

Adh-Dhahaby said: "This embrace is not part of the torment of the grave, but it is something that a believer suffers as he or she loses his or her child or beloved one in the world. It is also as he suffers the pain of sickness, the pain of death, the pain of questioning in the grave, the pain of his family for losing him, the pain of resurrecting from the grave, the pain of the Day of Judgment, the pain of passing over the Fire, and so on. Those fears may affect the person but they are neither part of the torment of the grave nor the torment of the Hell, however Allah shall treat the pious and righteous servants easily in some or all of those situations. A believer shall never taste comfort but when he encounters his Lord. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “And warn them (O Muhammad peace be upon him) of the Day of grief and regrets.” [Surat Maryam: 39]. Allah also says: “And warn them (O Muhammad peace be upon him) of the Day that is drawing near (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).” [Surat Al-Mu'minun: 18]. We ask Allah forgiveness and kindness.

Despite those fears, Sa`d is one of the people of Paradise, and one from the noblest martyrs (may Allah be pleased with him). Do you think that the one who shall enter Paradise will not suffer any fear, pain, and horror in both lives! Ask your Lord for safety and to gather us in the company of Sa`d.[11]

He passed away in the 5^th year of Hijrah (the Islamic Calendar) in young age: 37 years old. The Prophet (peace be upon him) offered Salah at him and he was buried in Al Baqi` (the graveyard of Madinah). May Allah be pleased with Sa`d, may Allah reward him the best for what he did to Islam and Muslims, and may Allah gather us with him in His Place of Honor (Paradise).

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

[1] Al Isabah Fi Tamyiz As-Sahabah (86\3).

[2] Siyar A`lam An-Nubala’ (279\11).

[3] Siyar A`lam An-Nubala’ (279\11).

[4] Sirat Ibn Hisam (40\2).

[5] Sahih Al Bukhari (536\2).

[6] Sahih Al Bukhari (43\3) No. (3802) and Sahih Muslim (1916\4) No. (2469).

[7] A vein in the middle of the arm when it is cut, the blood does not stop.

[8] Sahih Al Bukhari (119\3) and Sahih Muslim (1389-1390\3) No. (1769).

[9] Sahih Al Bukhari (43\3) No. (3803) and Sahih Muslim (1915\4) No. (2466).

[10] Musnad Al Imam Ahmad (98\6).

[11] Siyar `Alam An-Nubla’ (290-291\1).