Part 69

A few days later Al-Madiinah witnessed a horrible siege. It was, in fact, a siege which it brought upon itself rather than was forced upon it due to the trench that was dug as a protection and safely procedure. The Muslims were prepared for war. Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘aadh marched around with his sword and spear and recited lines of poetry that mean, "I waited anxiously for the battle to start. How beautiful death seems when the time is the right time."

In one of the rounds of war, Sa‘d's arm was showered with the arrows of one of the disbelievers, and blood gushed severely from his wounds. He received first aid assistance to stop the bleeding, then the Prophet (PBUH) ordered him carried to the mosque where a tent was’ put up so that he would be near the Prophet while he was nursed. The Muslims carried their great hero into the Prophet's mosque and Sa‘d looked up to the sky and said, "O Allah our Lord, if the war against the Quraish is to last any longer, please do let me live a little while longer to fight against them, for I like nothing better than fighting those people who hurt Your Prophet, disbelieved him, and even drove him to emigrate. But if the war has already ended, please make my wounds pave my way to martyrdom. I implore You, dear Allah, not to let me die until I avenge myself upon Bani

Allah will stand by you, Sad Ibn Mu‘aadh! For who could say such a thing in such a situation but you ? Allah did fulfil his suplication. His injury caused his death a month later, but he did not die until he had taken his revenge on the Jews of Bani Quraidhah. After the Quraish became desperate in their attempt to vanquish AlMadiinah and their soldiers were gripped by panic, they took their

arms and equipment and returned to Makkah ashamed and disappointed.

The Prophet (PBUH) believed that Al-Madiinah had been compromised by the deceit and treachery of the Jews for too long. They left the Muslims in the lurch whenever they chose, a thing that the Prophet could no longer accept. Therefore, he ordered his Companions to march towards Bani Quraidhah, and there the Muslims besieged them for 25 days. When the Jews were certain that there was no escape from the Muslims, they pleaded with the Prophet (PBUH) to let Sa*d Ibn Mu‘aadh, their ally in pagan times, decide what would become of them.

Sa‘d's wounds became worse every day. One day, the Prophet (PBUH) visited Sad and found him on the verge of death. so he put his head on his blessed lap and called upon Allah, "O Allah, Our Lord, Sa‘d has striven hard in the way of Allah. He believed in Your Prophet and did his very best. So please do accept his soul with goodly acceptance." The words of the Prophet (PBUH) fell like coolness and safety on the departing noble soul. He strove to open his eyes, hoping that the last face he saw would be the Prophet's and said, “Peace be upon you, Prophet. I do witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah."

The Prophet (PBUH) took a farewell look of Sa‘d's face and said, "Rejoice, Abu “Amr." Abu Sa‘iid Al-Khudriy (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "I was one of those who dug Sa‘d's grave, and each time we dug out a layer of sand, we smelled musk. This went on until we reached his burial niche." Sa‘d's death was a tragic loss for the Muslims. Their only consolation was when they heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, "The throne of the Most Beneficient shook when Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘aadh died."

(46) SA*D IBN “UBAADAH The Carrier of the Ansaar Standard

Sa*d Ibn Mu‘aadh is hardly ever mentioned without Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah. Both were leaders of Al-Madiinah. Sa‘d Ibn Mu*‘aadh was the leader of Al-Aws tribe and Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah of AlKhazraj. Again, both were foremost in Islamic faith. They witnessed the Pledge of Al--Aqabah and lived next to the Prophet (PBUH) as obedient and sincere believers and soldiers.

Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah held a special position among the Ansaar as he had his share of the abuse and torture Muslims were subjected to at the hands of the Quraish in Makkah! It was only natural that the Quraish would torture those who lived in Makkah, but to torture a man from Al-Madiinah was rather exceptional. ‘Ubaadah was not an ordinary man; he was a distinguished and influential leader. This was a privilege that was enjoyed only by Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah.

After the Pledge of Al--Aqabah allegiance was concluded in secret and the Angaar were getting ready to travel, the Quraish found out about the allegiance the Ansaar had given to the Prophet (PBUH). Their agreement with the Prophet (PBUH) allowed him to emigrate with his Companions to Al-Madiinah to flee the power of polytheism and darkness and seek sanctuary and support there.

At that point, the Quraish lost self-control, so they went on hunting those who pledged the Prophet. The disbelievers captured Sa‘d Ibn *Ubaadah, tied his hands to his neck with his saddle girths, and dragged him back to Makkah, where they beat and tortured him!

How could this happen to Sa‘d Ibn “Ubaadah? He was the leader of Al-Madiinah who always helped anyone of the Quraish who needed help, protected their trade, and was hospitable to them whenever they visited Al-Madiinah. Those who captured and abused him surely did not know who he was. But even if they had

known, would it have made any difference? They were the ones who tortured the elite of Makkah when they committed themselves to Islam, were they not? In those days, the Quraish were absolutely mad. They watched Ignorance collapse under the pressure of Truth, so the only thing that they could do was to avenge themselves ruthlessly and heedlessly.

As we have already said, Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah was surrounded by disbelievers who battered and tortured him. Now, let us hear the story as told by Sa‘d himself: By Allah, I was in such a terrible state in their mercy, when I saw a group of people from the Quraish approaching me. Among them there was this white man who looked as bright as daylight, so I said to myself, Well if there is someone among those people left with the least sense of compassion and mercy, then it must be this man. Unfortunately, as he came close to me, he raised his fist and punched me severely, so I said to myself that none of them is kind-hearted enough to come to my rescue. And there I was a prey in their hands as they dragged me when a man hurried to me and scolded me saying, "Fie on you! Doesn't anyone of the Quraish owe you a favor of good neighborliness?" I answered, "Yes, of course, I used to help Jubair Ibn Muta‘m's traders and stand by them against those of my people who were unjust to them. I also gave aid to Al-Haarith Ibn Harb Ibn Umaiyah." Then the man urged me to shout their names and say they owe me the right of good neighborliness so I did. Then the man rushed to them and told them, "A man from Al-Khazraj is being beaten in the valley and he is calling out your names and saying that you owe him the right of good neighborliness." They asked him who I was, and as soon as he told them, they told him that everything I said was true and rushed to rescue me.

Sa‘d left Makkah after this premature assault which made him realize the extent of brutality and savageness the Quraish were willing to exercise against unarmed people who called for good, truth, and peace. This assault sharpened his will, and he decided to do his utmost to help the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions.

The Prophet (PBUH) emigrated to Al-Madiinah just after the Hijrah of his Companions. There, Sa‘d put his fortune at the

disposal of the Muhaajiruun. Sa‘d was generous by nature and heredity, being the son of ‘Ubaadah Ibn Dulaim Ibn Haarithah, who was famous for his generosity in pagan times. Sa‘d's generosity turned into a sign of his deep-rooted and solid faith.

Narrators commented upon his generosity and said, "The Prophet's houses were always full of food sent by Sa‘d." They also said that a man from the Ansgaar used to invite one, two, or even three Muhaajiruun over for meals, whereas Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah used to invite over 80 of Muhaajiruun.

Solely for this, Sa‘d always implored Allah to bestow him with more of His good provision and used to invoke, “O Allah, little provision does not suffice me to be righteous or to act righteously." Therefore, it was justifiable for the Prophet (PBUH) to supplicate saying, "O Lord, bring Your blessings and mercy on the family of Sa‘d Ibn “Ubaadah."

Sa‘d directed not only his fortune to the service of Islam, the straight and right religion, but also his energy and skills. He was a skilled marksman. He showed singular spirit of self-sacrifice during the battles under the Prophet's command (PBUH). Ibn ‘Abbaas said about him (May Allah be pleased with them both), "The Prophet (PBUH) used only two standards each time he was at war: the Muhaajiruun's flag with *Aliy Ibn Abiy Taalib and the Ansaar's flag with Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubaadah.

It seemed that his characteristic strictness was part of his strong personality. He was stern in upholding what was right or what he believed to be his right. If he was convinced about a certain matter, he would rise to make it known in public in an unwavering

outspokenness and uncompromising firmness. This strictness, or should we say this extremism, was the reason behind many of his

viewpoints which were called into question.

For instance, on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (PBUH) assigned him to lead an army battalion. Hardly had he reached the outskirts of Makkah, the sacred town, when he shouted, "Today is the day of fierce battle. Today is the day of transgression." “Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab heard his threat and hurried to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, " Messenger of Allah, listen to what Sa‘d just said... He should not be entrusted with the command of the battalion that will attack the Quraish." The Prophet (PBUH) gave his assent and ordered ‘Umar to catch up with him and take his place in the command.