Virtues of Sa'd bin Ubadah al-Khazraji, the leader (may Allah be pleased with him)

It is narrated from Urwah, concerning the names of those of the Ansar from Banu Sa'idah bin Ka'b bin al-Khazraj who were present at the Pledge of Aqabah: among them is Sa'd bin Ubadah bin Dulaym bin Harithah bin Hazimah. He was a naqib (representative), and he was also present at the Battle of Badr.

It is narrated from Imam al-Zuhri that Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) was the standard-bearer (flag-carrier) of the Ansar alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) at the Battle of Badr and in other battles.

Yahya bin Abd al-Aziz bin Sa'id described the lineage of Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah as follows: Yahya bin Abd al-Aziz bin Sa'id bin Sa'd bin Ubadah bin Dulaym bin Harithah bin al-Nu'man bin Abi Hazimah bin Tha'labah bin Tarif bin al-Khazraj bin Sa'idah bin Ka'b bin al-Khazraj. Muhammad bin Umar said: The kunyah of Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) was Abu Thabit, and he was counted among the 'kamalah' (that is, those who knew writing, swimming and archery). He was one of the seventy Ansar who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the Night of Aqabah, and this is agreed upon in the reports of all the narrators. He was also one of the twelve nuqaba' (representatives) of the Ansar. He was an extremely generous chief. He did not (personally) take part in the Battle of Badr. It is mentioned that he was preparing fully to go out for the battle and was going to the homes of the Ansar urging them to go out for jihad, but before he could set out he was bitten by some venomous creature, and because of this he stayed behind. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said about him: "Although Sa'd was not able to take part in the Battle of Badr, he was very eager (desirous) to take part in it." He did, however, take part in the battles of Uhud, the Trench and all the other battles.

Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr said: Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him), whose kunyah was Abu Thabit, died at Hawran in the land of Syria when two and a half years of the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had been completed; that was at the end of the year 15 AH.

Yahya bin Abdullah bin Bukayr said: Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) died at Hawran in the year 16 AH.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Bring out for me twelve nuqaba' (representatives) (from among the Ansar)," we presented to him (peace and blessings be upon him) Sa'd bin Ubadah bin Dulaym bin Harithah bin Hazimah; he was the naqib of Banu Sa'idah.

Abd al-Hamid bin Abs bin Jabr narrates from his father that Quraysh heard at night, on Mount Abu Qubays, the voice of a caller (an unseen voice) saying: "If the two Sa'ds accept Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) will rise in the morning in Makkah without any fear of the opposition of anyone who opposes him." When morning came, Abu Sufyan said: "Who are these two Sa'ds? Are they Sa'd bin Bakr and Sa'd bin Hudhaym?" When the second night came, they heard him saying again: "O Sa'd, Sa'd of the Aws (Sa'd bin Mu'adh), become a helper and supporter; and O Sa'd, Sa'd of the Khazraj with its noble chiefs (Sa'd bin Ubadah), you too answer the call. Respond to the one calling to guidance, and hope from Allah for that station in the Paradise of Firdaws which is the aim of one who truly knows. For the reward of Allah for the seeker of guidance is the gardens of Firdaws, full of greenery and green silk couches." When morning came, Abu Sufyan said: "By Allah, what is meant is Sa'd bin Mu'adh and Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with them both)."