A Glimpse in to the life, merits and qualities of a great companion of our beloved Nabi ﷺ, Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه
Who is Sayyiduna Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه ?
- Name: Sayyiduna Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه
- Born: 28 years after our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam (23 BH)
- Demise: 44 years after our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam (55 AH)
● Sa’d رضي الله عنه , the son of Malik (who was also known as Abu Waqqas), was an extremely brave, courageous and intelligent companion of our beloved Nabi ﷺ
● He was among the first 7 companions to accept Islam and at the time of acceptance, he was at the young age of 17. His entry to Islam came through the invitation of Sayyiduna Abu bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.
● After accepting Islam, his family tried to make him leave Islam but he remained firm.
● Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه is also among the Asharah Mubasharah (the 10 sahaba who were promised Jannah) and was the last among them to pass away.
● He participated in all the major battles during his lifetime and always fought very courageously.
● He was well known for his far-sightedness and his skill in shooting arrows. Due to this skill, he became the first person to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah (for the defence of Islam).
● His position can be understood from the battle of Uhud, during which he stayed steadfast and fought bravely alongside our Beloved Nabi ﷺ.
● He was known to be ‘Mustajabu Al-Da’awat’ (one whose prayers are readily answered). This was as a result of a Dua made by our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
● During the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, he was among the six people chosen to choose the next khalifah after his death.
● Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه passed away in Madinah al-Munawwarah during the reign of Sayyiduna Muawiyah رضي الله عنه. He was approximately 78 years at the time and He is buried in Jannatul Baqi.
May Allah Ta’ala grant a great amount of reward for all of his services to Rasulullah ﷺ and to deen and give us all the ability to emulate his great companions in every way.
Qualities
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1) Sad Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه was a great archer and horseman.
2) He was very brave.
3) He had great leadership skills.
4) He was steadfast and would not give up.
Merits
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1) Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه is among the Asharah Mubasharah (the 10 sahaba who were promised Jannah) and was the last among them to pass away.
2) He was well known for his far-sightedness and had great skill in shooting arrows. Due to this skill, he became the first person to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah (for the defence of Islam)
3) He was also amongst the 6 Sahabah that Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه appointed after his demise to choose the next caliph.
4) He was known to be ‘Mustajabu Al-Da’awat’ (one whose prayers are readily answered). This was as a result of a Dua made by our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
5) He was fortunate to carry out the hijrah and participated in all the battles.
He was honoured to be one of the very few Sahabah who the prophet ﷺ said to them: “Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you.” (Bukhari)
Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه says: “I did not hear the Prophet ﷺ mentioning both of his parents (that is including both in the saying “May my father and mother be ransomed for you”) for anyone other than Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas.”
Saeed Ibn Musayyib says: I heard Sa’ad رضي الله عنه say: The prophet ﷺ mentioned to me his parents together in the battle of Uhud. (This is when he said إرم، فداك أبي وأمي (Shoot! May my parents be ransom to you.) (Bukhari)
This clearly shows what status the Messenger of Allah ﷺ held him in.
Sayyiduna Sa’d رضي الله عنه says: The prophet ﷺ heard me supplicating (on the day of Badr) so he said:
اللهم استجب له إذا دعاك
‘O Allah Accept his Dua when he asks from you’
(Musnad Bazzar)
Sayyiduna Sa’d رضي الله عنه says that the verse 15 of surah Luqman was revealed concerning me:
“I was a man who honoured his mother, but when I became Muslim, she said: `O Sa`d! What is this new thing I see you doing Leave this religion of yours, or I will not eat or drink until I die, and people will say:
Shame on you, for what you have done to me, and they will say that you have killed your mother.’ I said, `Do not do that, O mother, for I will not give up this religion of mine for anything.’ She stayed without eating for one day and one night, and she became exhausted; then she stayed for another day and night without eating, and she became utterly exhausted.
When I saw that, I said: `O my mother, by Allah, even if you had one hundred souls and they were to depart one by one, I would not give up this religion of mine for anything, so if you want to, eat, and if you want to, do not eat.’ So she ate.”
(Tabraani)
Ali Ibnul Madini رحمه الله says: “He was the last of the Asharah Mubasharah to pass away.”
Imam Dhahabi رحمه الله says: “He was the last of the muhajiroon to pass away.”
Ibn Abdil Barr رحمه الله says: “When he was passing away, he requested for a shirt (qamees) of wool and said: “Shroud me in this, as I met the enemy on the day of Badr while wearing this.”