Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)
Early Life and Conversion to Islam:
One morning, Abu Bakr spoke to Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and explained that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had received the revelation of his prophethood.
Abu Bakr then took him to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in one of the valleys of Makkah.
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was excited and without any doubts, he accepted Islam, making him one of the first people to accept Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was pleased when Sa’d became a Muslim as he saw signs of excellence in him.
Sa’d was a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and was a member of the tribe Banu Zuhrah.
Initial Reaction From Family:
While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was very happy by Sa’d’s acceptance of Islam, his mother’s reaction was the complete opposite.
Sa’d said: when my mother heard the news of my Islam, she flew into rage. She came up to me and said: O Sa’d. What is this religion that you have embraced which has taken you away from the religion of your mother and father. By Allah, either you forsake your new religion or I will not eat or drink until I die. Your heart would be broken with grief of me and remorse would consume you.
Sa’d pleaded with his mother and said: for I would not give up my religion for anything.
However, his mother went on with her threat and for days she did not eat or drink. She became weak and refused to eat until she died or Sa’d abandoned his religion.
Sa’d said to her: In spite of my strong love for you, my love for Allah and His Messenger is indeed stronger. By Allah, if you had a thousand souls and one soul after another were to depart, I would not abandon this religion for anything.
Quranic Revelation:
This affected Sa’d’s relationship with his mother and because of her attempts to give up Sa’d’s faith, the following verses of the Quran being revealed:
‘And we enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In pain upon pain did his mother bear him and his weaning took two years. So show gratitude to Me and to your parents. To Me is the final destiny.’ (Quran, 31:14)
‘But if you strive to make you join in worship with Me things of which you have no knowledge, obey them not. Yet bear them company in this life with justice and consideration and follow the way of those who turn to Me. In the end, the return of you all is to Me and I shall tell you (the truth and meaning of) all that you used to do’. (Quran, 14:15)
Early Acts of Courage:
One day, a number of idolaters came to the Muslims while they were praying and interrupted them. After they did this, the Muslims felt that they could not suffer with this disrespect and decided to fight the idolaters.
First Blood for Islam:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas hit one of the disbelievers with the jawbone of a camel and wounded him, and this was the first blood that was shed between Islam and disbelief.
After this incident, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told his companions to remain patient as this was the command of Allah SWT.
Allah SWT then revealed: ‘And bear with patience what they say and avoid them with noble dignity. And leave Me alone to deal with those who give the lie to the Truth, those who enjoy the blessings of life (without any thought of Allah) and bear with them for a little while’. (Quran, 71:10)
Military Achievements:
Many years later, when Allah SWT granted permission for the Muslims to fight, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas played an important role in many of the battles that took place during the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and after.
Battle of Badr:
He fought at Badr together with his younger brother Umayr, who was amongst the fourteen martyrs who passed away in the Battle of Badr.
Battle of Uhud:
At the Battle of Uhud, Sa’d was chosen as one of the best archers. He fought valiantly in the defence of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after some Muslims had moved away from their positions.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told Sa’d: shoot, may my mother and father be your ransom.
Ali ibn Abi Talib reported that he had not heard the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ promising such a ransom to anyone except Sa’d.
Significance:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was known as the first companion to have shot an arrow in the defence of Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once prayed for him saying: O Lord, direct his shooting and respond to his prayer.
Sa’d was one of the companions who was blessed with great wealth.
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas During The Farewell Pilgrimage:
During the farewell pilgrimage with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he fell ill.
Sa’d asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: I have wealth and I only have one daughter. Shall I give two thirds of my wealth as Sadaqah? The Prophet ﷺ replied: No.
Sa’d then asked: Then shall I give a half? The Prophet again said: No.
Sa’d asked: Shall I give a third? The Prophet ﷺ replied: Yes. The third is much. Indeed to leave your heirs well-off is better than that you should leave them dependent on and to beg from people. If you spend anything seeking to gain thereby the pleasure of Allah, you will be rewarded for it even if it is a morsel which you place in your wife’s mouth.
Military Commander in the Battle of Qadisiyah:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas is mainly renowned as the commander-in-chief for the Muslim army which Umar ibn al-Khattab sent to confront the Persians at Qadisiyah.
Umar’s Decision:
Umar ibn al-Khattab himself wanted to lead the army but Ali ibn Abi Talib suggested that the Muslims needed him as their Caliph and that he should not endanger his own life. Because of this, Umar then appointed Sa’d as the commander of the army.
Advice from Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Umar instructed Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas: O Sa’d. Let not any statement that you are the cousin of the Messenger of Allah or that you are the companion of the Messenger of Allah distract you from Allah. Allah Almighty does not obliterate evil with evil but he wipes out evil with good.
Umar continued: O Sa’d. There is no connection between Allah and anyone except obedience to Him. In the sight of Allah, all people whether nobleman or commoner are the same. Allah is their Lord and they are His servants seeking elevation through taqwa and seeking to obtain what is with Allah through obedience. Consider how the Messenger of Allah used to act with the Muslims and act accordingly.
Composition of the Army:
Thirty thousand members of the army then left for battle, and among them were ninety nine people who participated at Badr and more than three hundred people who took the Pledge of Allegiance at Hudaybiyah.
Another three hundred soldiers in the army consisted of those who participated in the liberation of Makkah with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Persian Forces:
The Muslim army camped at Qadisiyah. Meanwhile, the Persians had mobilised a force of over one hundred thousand men under the leadership of their commander Rustum.
Instructions from Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Umar ibn al-Khattab had instructed Sa’d to send updates about the condition and movements of the Muslim forces.
Sa’d wrote to Umar about the Persian forces and Umar wrote to him back saying: Do not be troubled by what you hear about them nor about the (forces, equipment and methods) they would deploy against you. Seek help with Allah and put your trust in Him and send men of insight, knowledge and toughness to him (the Chosroes) to invite him to Allah.
Delegations to Persians:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas followed the instructions of the Caliph Umar, and he sent delegations of Muslims first to Yazdegerd and then to Rustum inviting them either to accept Islam, pay the Jizyah to guarantee their protection or to fight with the Muslims.
The first Muslim delegation was ridiculed by the Persian Emperor, Yazdegerd.
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas then sent a delegation to Rustum, the commander of the Persian forces. This was led by Rub’iy ibn Amir who went directly to Rustam’s tent.
Rustam said: Rub’iy! What do you want from us? If you want wealth, we will give you. We would provide you with provisions and we would clothe you. We would make you rich and happy. What do you see in this assembly of mine? no doubt you see signs of richness and luxury, these lush carpets, fine curtains, gold embroidered walls, carpets of silk. Do you have any desire that we should bestow some of these riches which we have on you?.
Rub’iy replied: Listen, O Commander! Certainly Allah has chosen us so that through us, those of His creation whom He desires could be drawn away from the worship of idols to Tawhid, from the narrow confined of preoccupation with this world to its boundless expanse and from the tyranny of rulers to the justice of Islam.
Whoever accepts that from us, we are prepared to welcome him. And whoever fights us, we will fight him until the promise of Allah comes to pass.
Rustum asked: What is the promise of Allah to you? Rubi’y ibn Amir replied: Paradise for our martyrs and victory for those who live.
Battle of Qadisiyah:
Initial Challenges:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas hoped that the battle would be delayed as he was seriously ill. At this stage, he was suffering from sciatica and could not even sit upright because of this pain.
Inspiration To The Troops:
Sa’d got up and addressed his armybwith a verse from the Quran: ‘And indeed after having exhorted (man), We have laid it down in all the books of Divine wisdom that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth’. (Quran, 21:105)
Prayer and Attack:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas performed the Dhuhr prayer with his army and after completing the prayer, he faced the Muslim army and shouted: Allahu Akbar, four times and directed the fighters to attack with the words: Charge with the blessings of Allah!
Battle of Qadisiyah:
The battle continued for four days and the Muslims showed their courage and skill. Thirty thousand men from both sides were killed in the four days of fighting.
In one day alone, around two thousand Muslims and ten thousand Persians lost their lives.
Significance:
The Muslims were victorious and the Battle of Qadisiyah became one of the major battles in world history.
Conquest of Ctesiphon:
Two years after Qadisiyah, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas went on to take the Sasanian capital, Ctesiphon.
Historical Recognition:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas has gone down in history as the hero of Qadisiyah and the Conqueror of Ctesiphon.
Death of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas:
Sa’d lived until he was around eighty years of age.
As the time of his death approached in the year fifty-four AH, he asked his son to open a box in which he had kept a woollen jubbah and said: Shroud me in this, for in this (jubbah) I met the disbelievers on the day of Badr and in it, I deserve to meet Allah Almighty.
Hadiths on Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas narrated: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took out a quiver of arrows for me on the Day of Uhud and said: Throw (the arrows), let my father and mother be sacrificed for you. (Bukhari)
Ali ibn Abi Talib also narrated: I never heard Allah’s Messenger saying: Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you, except for Sa`d (bin Abi Waqqas). I heard him saying, Throw! (arrows), let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! (Tirmidhi)
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas narrated: The Prophet mentioned both his parents to me on the Day of Uhud. (Tirmidhi)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ visited Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas whilst he was ill and supplicated: O Allah! Cure Sa’d. O Allah! Cure Sa’d. O Allah! Cure Sa’d.