The Virtues and Merits of Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA)

Sayyiduna Saad bin Malik bin Wahib bin Abd Manaf al-Zuhri al-Qurashi al-Makki, also known as Abu Ishaq (RA), narrates: “No one embraced Islam before me on the day I converted, and I spent seven days being the third Muslim.”

(Sahih Bukhari: 3727)

The Prophet (SAW) said to him on the day of the Battle of Uhud:

"ارم فداك أبي و أمي"

“Shoot (the arrow), may my parents be sacrificed for you.” (Sahih Bukhari: 4055; Sahih Muslim: 2414/12; Darussalam: 6237)

One night, the Prophet (SAW) said:

"لیت رجلاً صالحاً من أصحابي یحرسني اللیلۃ"

“I wish a righteous man from my companions would guard me tonight.” Then Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) came with the sound of weapons and guarded him. The Prophet (SAW) slept peacefully. (Sahih Bukhari: 7231; Sahih Muslim: 2410; Darussalam: 6230)

This incident occurred at the time when the verse

وَاللّٰہُ یَعْصِمُکَ مِنَ النَّاسِ

(and Allah will protect you from the people) (Al-Ma’idah: 67) was revealed. See Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3046, its chain is Hasan, authenticated by al-Hakim 2/313, and agreed by al-Dhahabi) and Sahih Ibn Hibban (Mawarid al-Zam'an: 1739, its chain is Hasan, Mu'ammal bin Isma'il is Hasan in Hadith).

Afterward, the Prophet (SAW) did not need a guard anymore.

Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) said:

"عربوں میں، اللہ کے راستے میں سب سے پہلا تیر چلانے والا میں ہوں"

“Among the Arabs, I was the first to shoot an arrow in the way of Allah.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3728)

Some verses of the Quran were revealed about him. (See Sahih Muslim: 1748; Darussalam: 6238)

The Prophet (SAW) said:

"وسعد بن أبی وقاص فی الجنۃ"

“And Saad bin Abi Waqqas is in Paradise.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3747, its chain is Sahih, al-Hadith: 19 p. 56)

Sayyiduna Umar (RA) included him among the six companions he considered deserving of the caliphate. (See Sahih Bukhari: 3700; al-Hadith: 21 p. 47) During the Battle of Uhud, Saad (RA) saw Jibril and Mikail (AS), the two angels, on the right and left of the Prophet (SAW), dressed in white. (Sahih Muslim: 2306; Darussalam: 6004)

Hafiz al-Dhahabi said:

"أحد العشرۃ، وأحد السابقین الأولین، وأحد ،من شھد بدراً و الحدیبیۃ و أحد الستۃ أھل الشوریٰ"

“He was one of the ten promised Paradise, one of the earliest converts, and among those who witnessed Badr and Hudaybiyyah, and one of the six members of the Shura council.” (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 1/93)

He was the conqueror of Persia. Qadisiyyah was conquered under his command, and Allah destroyed Kisra. (See Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 1/115)

Sayyiduna Saad (RA) was mustajab al-da'wat (whose supplications were answered). Once, a man lied about him, so he cursed him, and the man was afflicted with humiliation and disgrace. (See Sahih Bukhari: 755; Sahih Muslim: 453)

Once, Sayyiduna Saad (RA) delivered a sermon in Kufa and asked, “O people of Kufa! How do you find me as your leader?” A man replied, “Allah knows that you do not do justice to your subjects, do not distribute wealth properly, and do not participate in jihad.” Saad (RA) said, “O Allah! If this man is lying, make him blind, impoverished, prolong his life, and involve him in trials.” The man became blind, impoverished, lived a long life, and was involved in the Fitnah of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi. (Tareekh Dimashq 22/233-234, its chain is Sahih; Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 1/113-114)

The Prophet (SAW) once made a supplication:

"اللھم ادخل من ھذا الباب عبداً یحبک و تحبہ"

“O Allah! Make a person who loves You and whom You love enter through this door.” Then Saad (RA) entered through that door. (Al-Mustadrak by al-Hakim 3/499, Hadith 6117, its chain is Hasan; Tareekh Dimashq 22/223-224, authenticated by al-Hakim and agreed by al-Dhahabi)

Sayyiduna Saad (RA) disliked disputes among Muslims and stayed away from conflicts. He remained neutral during the Battles of Jamal and Siffin. One day, while he was among his camels, he saw his son, Umar, approaching. (Umar bin Saad was among those who killed Sayyiduna Husayn (RA), a detestable person.) Sayyiduna Saad (RA) said, “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the evil of this coming person (Umar bin Saad).” Umar bin Saad said, “You are sitting among camels while people are fighting for leadership?” Sayyiduna Saad (RA) hit his chest and said, “Be silent!” (Sahih Muslim: 2965; Darussalam: 7432) Also, see Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (1/122)

From this, we understand that in times of internal conflicts among Muslims, one should separate from all groups and adhere to the Quran and Sunnah. Sayyiduna Saad (RA) was asked which group he was with, and he replied,

"ما أنا مع واحدۃ منھما"

“I am not with either of them.” (Al-Mustadrak 3/501-502, Hadith 6126, its chain is Hasan, Husain bin Khirash was authenticated by Ibn Hibban 4/155, and mentioned by Abdan in the Sahabah; his narration does not drop below the level of Hasan)

Sayyiduna Saad (RA) is known to have prayed one rak'ah of Witr. (See Sahih Bukhari: 6356; Ma'rifat al-Sunan wa al-Athar by al-Bayhaqi 2/314, Hadith 139, and Al-Nimawi in Athar al-Sunan 606: "its chain is Sahih”)

When Sayyiduna Saad (RA) fell ill in Makkah, the Prophet (SAW) said to him:

"ہوسکتا ہے کہ اللہ تجھے باقی رکھے ، کچھ لوگوں (مسلمانوں) کو تجھ سے فائدہ ہوگا اور کچھ لوگوں (کافروں ) کو تجھ سے نقصان ہوگا"

“Perhaps Allah will keep you alive; some people (Muslims) will benefit from you, and some people (disbelievers) will be harmed by you.” (Sahih Bukhari: 1295; Sahih Muslim: 1628)

According to the famous narration, he passed away in 55 AH at the place of 'Aqiq.

(Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 2259) رضی اللہ عنہ
 
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