Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
The Lineage of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
His name is Sa'd ibn Mu'adh ibn al-Nu'man ibn Imru' al-Qays ibn Zayd ibn 'Abd al-Ashhal. His nickname is Abu 'Amr. His mother is Kabshah bint Rafi' ibn Mu'awiyah ibn 'Ubayd ibn al-Abjar, and she was among those who pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Conversion of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh to Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had sent Mus'ab ibn Umair after the First Pledge of Aqabah to Medina to invite people to Islam and teach them the religion. As'ad ibn Zurara accepted Islam with him and began calling people to Islam alongside Mus'ab.
As for Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and Usayd ibn Hudayr, they were the chiefs of their people in Medina. When they learned about Mus'ab and As'ad, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh said to Usayd, "Go to them and see what they are about. As'ad is my cousin, and if it were anyone else, I would have dealt with him myself." Usayd took his spear and went to them. Mus'ab invited him to sit and listen, then recited the Qur'an to him, and Usayd accepted Islam.
Usayd returned to Sa'd with a changed demeanor. When asked about his experience, he said, "I spoke to the two men and saw nothing wrong with them. However, I heard that the people of Harithah are planning to kill As'ad ibn Zurara." Angered by this news, Sa'd went out to As'ad and found him calm. Realizing Usayd's intention, Sa'd said to As'ad, "If you were not my cousin, you would not have seen from me what you saw." He then asked As'ad to listen to what he had to say. As'ad invited him to Islam and recited the Qur'an to him, leading Sa'd to embrace Islam and purify himself.
Sa'd ibn Mu'adh was the chief of his people, Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal, and they all accepted Islam following his conversion. Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal became the first household in Yathrib (Medina) to convert entirely to Islam. Sa'd then invited Mus'ab ibn Umair and As'ad ibn Zurara to his house, which became the center of Islamic propagation at that time.
Virtues of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
The virtues of Sa'd are highlighted in several Hadiths, including the following:
Social Status and Luxurious Life
Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was gifted a silk garment, and his companions started touching it and admiring its softness. He said, "Are you amazed at the softness of this? The handkerchiefs of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh in Paradise are better than this, or softer" (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Strength of Faith and Status in Islam
Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "The Throne of the Most Merciful shook at the death of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh" (Sahih al-Bukhari) .
Wisdom and Sound Judgment
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Some people surrendered to the judgment of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent for him, and he came riding a donkey. When he neared the mosque, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Stand up for your leader." He then said, "O Sa'd, these people have surrendered to your judgment." Sa'd said, "I judge that their warriors be killed and their children and women be taken as captives." The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked, "You have judged by the ruling of Allah," or "by the ruling of the King" (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Characteristics of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
Sa'd ibn Mu'adh was tall, broad-shouldered, fair-skinned, and had a handsome beard. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said about him:
“Three among the Ansar were unparalleled in their virtue, all from Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal: Usayd ibn Hudayr, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, and 'Abbad ibn Bishr” (Sahih Muslim).
Sa'd was known for his fervent defense and protection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) whenever he heard the disbelievers insulting him. He was a staunch supporter of Allah and His Messenger, deeply loving the Prophet and fearing for his safety. At the Battle of Badr, Sa'd suggested that a shelter be built for the Prophet to ensure his protection from the enemy. The Prophet prayed for him and praised him for his suggestion.
Sa'd was also known for his intense protective jealousy (Ghirah) over his wife. When the verse of li'an (mutual cursing) was revealed, he said to the Prophet:
“If I saw a man with my wife, I would strike him with the sword without hesitation.” When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard this, he said, "Are you amazed at Sa'd's Ghirah? I am more jealous than he is, and Allah is more jealous than I am” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Deeds of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
Sa'd ibn Mu'adh participated in the Battle of Badr with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He demonstrated his unwavering support and bravery when he said to the Prophet, "Proceed, O Messenger of Allah, with what you intend, for we are with you. If you were to cross the sea, we would cross it with you, and not a single one of us would stay behind. Perhaps Allah will show you through us what will bring you delight. So, proceed with the blessings of Allah" (Sahih Muslim).
When the Prophet and his companions besieged Banu Qurayza, and they despaired of breaking the siege or seeing the Prophet withdraw, they decided to surrender to the Prophet's judgment. The Prophet appointed Sa'd ibn Mu'adh as the arbitrator to decide their fate. Sa'd had been injured, so the Prophet placed him in the tent of Rufaidah al-Aslamiyyah for treatment. Sa'd's people went to him, carried him, and brought him to the Prophet to judge Banu Qurayza.
The Prophet said to him, "O Sa'd, judge the Banu Qurayza." Sa'd, wanting to uphold justice for the Prophet and the Muslims for the harm they had suffered at the hands of Banu Qurayza, especially during the Battle of the Trench, ruled: "I judge that their warriors be killed, their women and children be taken as captives, and their wealth be divided." (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Death of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
Sa'd ibn Mu'adh was injured during the Battle of the Trench by an arrow that struck his ankle. Upon being wounded, he prayed to Allah, asking to be kept alive if there were any remaining battles against Quraysh so that he could participate in them. Allah answered his prayer and kept him alive to judge Banu Qurayza. When he passed his judgment on them, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "You have judged them with the judgment of Allah from above the seven heavens."
After his judgment, the companions returned Sa'd to the tent of Rufaidah al-Aslamiyyah to continue his treatment. However, his wound reopened, causing heavy bleeding. He eventually succumbed to his injury and was martyred. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) personally conducted his funeral. This occurred in the fifth year of the Hijrah.
At the time of his death, the Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked:
"The Throne of the Most Merciful shook at the death of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh" (Sahih al-Bukhari).
