Part 18

The nature of life changed within the beginning of the Umayyid period. This change was inevitable. It was a period of expansion in every aspect of life, in the ambition of the state as well as the ambitions of individuals.

In the midst of the excitement of temptation and the agitation of

an era lured by the idea of expansion with its pleasure and booty, stood Ibn ‘Umar with his merits, occupying himself with his excellent spiritual progress.

He gained from his great excellent life all that he desired, so that his contemporaries described him by saying, "Ibn “Umar died while being like ‘Umar in his merit."

Moreover, dazzled by the glitter of his merits, his contemporaries liked to compare him with his father ‘Umar saying, “Umar lived in a time when similar ones could be found, and Ibn “Umar lived in a time when there was no one similar to him."

It is an exaggeration which may be forgiveable because Ibn “Umar deserved it. But as for ‘Umar, no one can be compared to him. It is absolutely out of the question that a similar one is to be found in any period of time.

In the year A.H. 73, the sun sank and the ship of eternity hoisted its sail towards the next life carrying the body of the last representative of the first days of the Revelation in Makkah and AlMadiinah: “Abd Allah Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab.*

* The last Companion to pass away was Anas Ibn Maalik (May Allah be pleased with him) who died in Al-Basra in the year A.H. 91 or 93.

(6) SA‘D IBN ABI WAQQAAS The Lion's Claws !

A continuous stream of incoming news worried the Commander of the Faithful ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab. This news was about the deceitful attacks launched by the Persian forces against the Muslims at the Battle of Al-Jisr which cost the Muslims 4,000 lives in a single day and, moreover, about the Iraqis' renouncement of allegiance and their violation of agreed-upon convenants. Therefore, he decided to personally lead the Muslim troops in a decisive fight against Persia.

In fact, he set out accompanied by some of his companions, leaving *Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) behind to act as his deputy over Al-Madiinah.

However, he had hardly left Al-Madiinah when some of his companions found it wiser to ask him to return and appoint someone else for this task.

This view was adopted by “Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn “Awf, who saw it unwise to tisk the caliph's life in such a way while Islam was going through its most decisive days.

‘Umar ordered the Muslims to gather for public consultation. Congregational prayer was then announced and “Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib was sent for. He went with some Madinites to where “Umar and his companions were waiting. At last, they accepted “Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn “Awf's opinion. The assembly decided that ‘Umar was to go back to Al-Madiinah and another Muslim leader be chosen to combat the Persians.

“Umar agreed to their decision, then asked his companions, "Whom do you see fit to be sent to Iraq?” They thought silently for a while. Then ~Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn ‘Awf shouted, "I've found him!" ‘Umar said, " Who is it?" *Abd Ar-Rahman said, "The Lion's Claws: Sa‘d Ibn Maalik Az-Zuhariy."

The Muslims supported his choice. ‘Umar then sent for Sa‘d Ibn Maalik Az-Zuhariy, also known as Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqaas, and appointed him governor of Iraq and Commander of the Army.

Who is that "Lion's Claws"? It is he who, whenever he turned to the Prophet while sitting among his Companions, was greeted cheerfully by the Prophet saying, "He's my maternal uncle."

Can anyone tell me who his uncle was? He was Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqaas. His grandfather was Uhaib Ibn Manaaf, the paternal uncle of Aaminah, the mother of the Prophet (PBUH). He accepted Islam when he was 17 years old. He embraced Islam very early. When he talked about himself, he said, "I witnessed a day in which I was third in Islam," which means that he was the third to embrace Islam.

When the Prophet (PBUH) spoke about the One God and about the new religion whose teachings he was to spread all around, and before using Daar Al-Arqam as a refuge for himself and the Companions in those early days, Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqaas had already sworn the oath of allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH).

Historical and biographical sources inform us that the conversion of Abu Bakr was the reason for Sa‘d's embracing Islam. He may have been one of those who announced their belief in Islam after Abu Bakr convinced them. This group included *Uthmaan Ibn “Affaan, Az-Zubair Ibn Al--Awaam, Abd ArRahman Ibn ‘Awf and Talhah Ibn “Ubaid Allah. However, that does not omit the possibility that his conversion had taken place secretly and he had believed even earlier.

Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqaas had many noble qualities which he could be proud of. However, he never arrogantly mentioned any of these merits, except for two great privileges. First, he was the first to throw a spear in the cause of Allah and the first to be struck by one. Second, he was the only one for whom the Prophet (PBUH) hoped his parents might be his ransom. That happened when the Prophet (PBUH) said to him on the day of Uhud, "Throw, Sa‘d. May

my father and mother be your ransom." Yes, indeed, he always mentioned proudly these two noble blessings. Thanking Allah, he always said, "By Allah, I am the first Arab to throw a spear in the cause of Allah."

Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib said, "I have never heard the Prophet (PBUH) hoping that his parents may be made someone's ranson except Sa‘d. On the day of Uhud I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, "Throw Sa‘d. May my father and mother be your ransom."

Sa‘d was considered to be one of the most courageous Arab and Muslim horsemen. He possessed two weapons, his lance and his prayer. Whenever he pierced an enemy with his lance he hurt him; whenever he invoked Allah He answered. He and the Companions always saw that this was due to the Prophet's prayer in favor of him. One day, when the Prophet saw him doing something which made him glad and delighted, he made the following plea: "O Allah, make his spear hit unerringly and answer his prayer."

It was in this way that he became famous among his companions for his prayer, which was like a sharp sword. He knew

that about himself; therefore, he never cursed a person. Sad would just trust Allah to do with him as He liked.

An example of that is what ~Aamir Ibn Sa‘d once narrated: Sa*d once sawa man insulting “Aliy, Talhah and Az-Zubair. He forbade him, but he didn't stop. Sa‘d then said, "Then I will invoke Allah against you.” The man said, "You're threatening me as if you were a Prophet."

Sa‘d went away, performed his ablution and prayed two rak‘ahs. Then he lifted his hands up and said, "O Allah, if You know that that man has insulted people who have already been granted by You that which is the best and his cursing of them has annoyed You, then make an example out of him." Only a short while had passed, when a stray camel went out of a house. Nothing could stay it till it entered acrowd as if searching for something. Then it attacked the

man, and he fell between its legs. It continued to kick the man down till he died.

If this phenomenon was to prove something, then it proved primarily the purity of his soul, the honesty of his faith, and the depth of his sincerity. He always sought to support his piety by halaal food; with great insistence he always refused to take doubtful money.

Sa‘d lived until he became one of the wealthiest Muslims. When he died, he left a great fortune behind. Although the abundance of money and its legitimacy are rarely to be found together, they certainly were combined in the hands of Sa‘d. Thus Allah granted him a great amount of halaal money.

He (May Allah be pleased with him) was a great figure in the act of charity, as much as he was a great figure in the act of righteously choosing the sources of his money. His ability to collect purely halaal money was equal to, if not second to, his ability to donate it in the cause of Allah.

He became ill during the Farewell Pilgrimage, when he was accompanying the Prophet (PBUH), who visited him. Sa‘d asked him (PBUH), "O Messenger of Allah, Town alot of money and there is nobody to inherit from me except one daughter. May I contribute two thirds of my money as alms?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "No." Then he said, "Then half of it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, " No." Then he said, "Then a third?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, " Yes, and the third is too much. To leave your heirs wealthy is better than to leave them having to be dependent on someone. If you spend any money in the cause of Allah you'll be rewarded for it, even the bite you put in your wife's mouth."

Sa‘d did not remain the father of one daughter because he was later on blessed with other children.

Sa‘d used to cry a lot out of piety. Whenever he listened to the Prophet (PBUH) preaching or advising, his tears rolled down abundantly, so that his tears nearly filled his lap.

He was blessed with success and accomplishment. Once the Prophet (PBUH) was sitting with the Companions when his eyes gazed on the horizon while listening to what was being revealed secretly and whisperingly. Then he looked at his Companions’ faces and said, "A man who belongs to Paradise will soon appear." The

Companions turned in all directions trying to learn, who this successful person may be. After a while, Sa‘d arrived.

Later on, “Abd Allah Ibn “Amr Ibn Al--Aas asked him persistently to tell him the worship or deed which made him eligible for such a reward. Sa‘d told him, "Nothing more than what we all do

or worship, except that I don't carry any spite or hatred towards any Muslim."

This is the "Lion's Claws" as “Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn ~Awf had described him. This is the man whom “Umar chose for the great day of the Battle of AlQaadisiyah.

The Commander of the Faithful had insight into all his glittering

merits when he chose him for the most difficult task confronting Islam and the Muslims:

- His prayers were heard and answered; if he asked Allah for victory, he would be granted it.