Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas [radiyallahu anh]

Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu anh) was born in 592 in Medina. He moved to Makkah with his family at a young age. At the tender age of 11, he became the fourth person to embrace Islam (according to some accounts he was 19).

Before the Prophet migrated to Medina, Sa'd made his hijrah. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) declared him brothers with Mus'ab ibn Umayr (according to some, with Sa'd ibn Mu'adh).

He is one of the ten companions promised Paradise. In the final days of Caliph Umar's reign, may Allah be pleased with him, Sa'd was selected as part of the six-person council charged with choosing the next Caliph. Throughout the Caliphates, he commanded the Islamic armies.

A man of formidable strength, Sa'd was renowned for his sharp eyesight and exceptional horse-riding skills. His prowess in archery was legendary. He passed away in the year 675 and was laid to rest in Jannatu’l-Baqi. May Allah be pleased with him. Here, we share glimpses of his life.

***

Amongst the Swirling Darkness

It was the nascent days of the Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) call to Islam. Sa'd (radiyallahu anh) reminisced about those times:

“The day before I embraced Islam, I dreamt I was drowning in a dark ocean, thrashing amongst the waves, when suddenly a moon appeared before me, and I began to follow it. Ahead, I noticed a few others. They were Zayd ibn Haritha, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. I called out to them, 'How long have you been here?' They replied, ‘A few hours.’

Upon waking, I waited until dawn and then learned that the Prophet was inviting people to believe in Allah and calling them towards a new religion. I rushed to him. Except for the people I saw in my dream, no one else had accepted Islam. Thus, I became the fourth man to embrace the faith.”

Even if It's My Mother

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu anh) continued:

"When news of my embracing Islam reached my mother, she was enraged. I loved her dearly, always mindful of her rights, striving to treat her well. Upon seeing her, she said:

- Sa'd! What is this religion that has drawn you away from your forefathers' faith? Either you forsake this religion, or I shall not eat or drink until I die! And then you will grieve over me, regretting your decision and the harm you've done to your mother, as people disgrace you for it.

- Mother, please don't do this. I would not exchange my religion for anything!"

My mother wouldn't listen and stopped eating and drinking. Days passed without her taking a morsel. She grew weak, her bones visible through her skin. Every hour, I would plead with her to eat, but she vehemently refused. This went on for days. One day, I said to her:

Mother, much as I love you, I love this religion, Allah, and His Messenger more. By Allah, even if you had a thousand lives and lost them all before my eyes, I would not abandon my faith!"

Seeing my resolve, she reluctantly began to eat and drink again. Subsequently, Allah the Almighty revealed the ayah:

“But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in (this) world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me (in repentance). Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.” (Luqman, 15)

“May the Lives of My Father and Mother Be Laid Down for You, O Sa'd!”

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu anh) hailed from the tribe of Zuhra. Since Prophet Muhammad’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) mother, Amina, came from the same tribe, Sa'd was akin to an uncle to the Prophet.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) held Sa'd in great affection and trust, often boasting about him among his companions. One day, while sitting with the noble companions in the Prophet's Mosque, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas entered. Pointing to him with a smile, the Prophet said:

“Here comes my uncle. Let those who have an uncle like him step forward!”

Just as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) took pride in Sa'd, Sa'd also took pride in his close relationship with the Prophet.

During the battle of Uhud, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas defended the Prophet with his arrows. Every arrow he shot found its mark, bringing joy to the Prophet. As Sa'd aimed, the Prophet would extend arrows to him, saying:

“Shoot, Sa'd! May the lives of my father and mother be laid down for you, shoot!”

After the battle, Sa'd (radiyallahu anh) always took pride in these words. He boasted, “The Prophet never said 'May the lives of my father and mother be laid down for you' for anyone else but me.”

The Caliph's Advice

Caliph Umar (radiyallahu anh) appointed Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas as the commander of the Islamic armies and gave him orders for a campaign. Upon completing the preparations, Caliph Umar offered him the following counsel:

"O Sa'd! Let not the people's sayings that 'This is the Prophet's uncle, one of his closest companions,' deceive you! Allah the Most High erases evil not with evil but with good.

O Sa'd! It is not lineage but piety alone that counts before Allah. The noblest and the lowest in lineage are equal in the sight of Allah. All humans are servants of Allah, their Lord, distinguished from one another only by their piety. Only those who obey and turn to worship will attain the bounties prepared by Allah. My command and request to you is: follow whatever you have seen from the Prophet!"

Armed with these words of advice, Sa'd (radiyallahu anh) led many successful campaigns and skillfully commanded the Muslim armies. May Allah be pleased with him.