Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh was one of the most noble and honored Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Throne (of Allah) shook at his death, as narrated by Sayyiduna Jabir; ”I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, “The Throne (of Allah) shook at the death of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh.” His full name was Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh ibn An-Nu‘man ibn Imri’ Al-Qays ibn Zayd ibn Abd Al-Ashhal. Sa`d ibn Mu`adh was a fair-skinned man, tall and handsome, with a pleasant face, beautiful eyes, and a fine beard. He was born in Yathrib approximately thirty-two years before the Prophet’s migration (ﷺ). After the First Pledge of Aqabah, the Messenger of Allah sent Mus‘ab ibn Umayr to Yathrib to invite its people to Islam and teach them its teachings. Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh accepted Islam through him, and his cousin As‘ad ibn Zurarah also embraced Islam with him.
When Sa`d ibn Mu`adh embraced Islam, he stood before his people and said: ”O Banu Abd Al-Ashhal! What do you know of my status among you?” They replied, ”You are our leader, known for your virtue.” He said, ”Then your words to me—men and women alike—are forbidden until you believe in Allah and His Messenger.” There remained no man or woman in the household of Banu Abd Al-Ashhal except that he or she embraced Islam. Thus, the household of Banu Abd Al-Ashhal became the first among the Ansar whose men and women all accepted Islam together.
Sa`d ibn Mu`adh’s bravery
It was narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas`ud from Sa`d ibn Mu`adh that Sa`d ibn Mu`adh had been an intimate friend of Umaiya ibn Khalaf, and whenever Umayya passed through Medina, Sa`d would stay with Umayya whenever he went to Mecca. When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) arrived at Medina, Sa`d went to perform Umra and stayed at Umayya’s home in Mecca. He said to Umayya, “Tell me of a time when the Mosque is empty so that I may be able to perform Tawaf around the Ka`ba.” So Umayya went with him about midday. Abu Jahl met them and said, “O Abu Safwan! Who is this man accompanying you?” He said, “He is Sa`d.” Abu Jahl addressed Sa`d, saying, “I see you wandering about safely in Mecca even though you have given shelter to the people who have changed their religion (i.e. became Muslims) and have claimed that you will help them and support them. By Allah, if you were not in the company of Abu Safwan, you would not be able to go to your family safely.” Sa`d, raising his voice, said to him, “By Allah, if you should stop me from doing this (i.e., performing Tawaf), I would certainly prevent you from something more valuable for you, that is, your passage through Medina.” On this, Umayya said to him, “O Sa`d, do not raise your voice before Abu Al-Hakam, the chief of the people of the Valley (of Mecca).” Sa`d said, “O Umayya, stop that! By Allah, I have heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) predicting that a Muslim will kill you.” This event clearly demonstrates how much Sa`d valued his faith and how boldly he confronted those who challenged him.
His Unforgettable Stand Alongside the Prophet (ﷺ)
Before the Battle of Badr, after the situation shifted from merely seizing the Quraysh’s caravan to a full-scale confrontation between the Muslims and the disbelievers, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) sought the opinion of his Companions before entering this decisive battle. It has been narrated on the authority of Anas that when the news of the advance of Abu Sufyan reached him, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) held consultations with his Companions. The narrator said, Abu Bakr spoke (expressing his own views), but the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) did not pay heed to him. Then spoke Umar (expressing his views), but the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) did not pay heed to him. Then Sa`d ibn Mu`adh stood up and said, ”Messenger of Allah, you want us (to speak). We believe in you, so we affirm your truthfulness, and we bear witness that what you have brought is the truth. We pledge our loyalty and our covenants to you in obedience and submission. So proceed, O Messenger of Allah, in whatever you intend. By Him Who sent you with the truth, if you were to lead us into this sea, we would wade through it with you; not a single man among us would lag, nor would we object to facing the enemy tomorrow. Indeed, we are steadfast in battle, truthful in encounter, and perhaps Allah will show you from us what will satisfy you. So advance with us, by the blessing of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was pleased with Sa`d’s words, and they strengthened his resolve. Then he said, ”Proceed and rejoice, for Allah the Exalted has promised me one of the two groups. By Allah, it is as though I can now see the places where the people will fall.”
The support of Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh did not stop at this stage; rather, he continued to defend Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) until the very end of his life. While this marks the end of this article, it is not the end of the story of Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh. In the next article, we will continue exploring his remarkable life and legacy.
