Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh was renowned for his leadership and was recognized as the master of his people. It is narrated that before Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh embraced Islam in Madinah through the envoy of Islam, Mus`ab ibn Umayr, As`ad ibn Zurārah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Mus`ab ibn Umayr, ”O Mus`ab, by Allah, there has come to you the leader of those behind him among his people. If he follows you, not even two of them will lag.” Earlier, when Usayd ibn Hudayr—who was also a leader among his people—embraced Islam, he said to Mus`ab ibn Umayr and As`ad ibn Zurārah: ”Behind me is a man; if he follows you, not a single one of his people will remain behind him; referring to Sayyiduna Sa`d ibn Mu`adh. His noble status empowered him to stand firmly in defense of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) whenever it was needed.
Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Hazm told me that Sa`d ibn Mu`adh said to the Messenger of Allah on the Day of Badr, ”O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), shall we not build a shelter for you, in which you may stay, and tie your mounts beside you? Then we will go forth to face our enemy. If Allah grants us victory and honors us, that is what we desire most. But if the other outcome occurs, you may mount your ride and rejoin those who are behind us.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spoke well of him, praised him, and supplicated for him.
The Judgment of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh on Banu Qurayzah
Sa`d ibn Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) passed judgment on the Jews of Banu Qurayzah after their betrayal of the covenant during the Battle of the Trench. He ruled that the fighting men be executed, the women and children taken captive, and the wealth distributed. Then, the people of (Banu) Quraiza agreed to accept the verdict of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh. So the Prophet (ﷺ) sent for Sa`d, and the latter came (riding) a donkey. When he approached the Mosque, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to the Ansar, “Get up for your chief.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said (to Sa`d).” These (i.e. Banu Quraiza) have agreed to accept your verdict.” Sa`d said, “Kill their warriors and take their offspring as captives.” On that, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You have judged according to Allah’s Judgment.”
Sa`d ibn Mu`adh’s death
It was narrated by Lady Aisha, ”On the day of Al-Khandaq (battle of the Trench), Sa`d bin Mu`ad was injured in the median vein of his arm, and the Prophet (ﷺ) pitched a tent in the mosque to look after him. There was another tent for Banu Ghaffar in the mosque, and the blood started flowing from Sa`d’s tent to the tent of Bani Ghaffar. They shouted, “O occupants of the tent! What is coming from you to us?” They found that Sa`d’s wound was bleeding profusely, and Sa`d died in his tent.”
The angels witnessed the funeral of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh
It was narrated by Anas ibn Malik, “When the funeral of Sa’d ibn Mu’adh was carried, the hypocrites said, ‘How light his funeral is.’ And this was due to his judgment concerning Banu Quraizah. So this reached the Prophet (ﷺ), and he said, ‘Indeed, the angels were carrying him.”
