Sa'd ibn Mua'dh

Sa’d ibn Mu'adh was a chief of the Banu Aus tribe in Medina and later converted to Islam. Sa'd was one of the chief of the Banu Aus, one of the two clans (non jewish) settled in Medina.

Contents

Biography

Campaigns led by Muhammad

Ghazwah (expeditions where he took part)

Sariyyah (expeditions which he ordered)

Sa'd adopted Islam in 622 (1 AH), when Muhammad arrived in Medina, then known as Yathrib. He was among the leading figures among the Ansar, as Muhammad had dubbed the people of Aws and Khazraj from Medina who converted to Islam.

Sa'd was an intimate friend with Umayah ibn Khalaf [1]. When Sa'd was in Mecca, he used to stay with Umayah, and when Umayah was in Medina, he used to stay with Sa'd.[1]

Prior to the Battle of Badr, Sa’d had visited Mecca once to perform his Umra with his non-Muslim friend Umayah ibn Khalaf, when they came across Abu Jahl. They had an argument, and as it became heated, Sa'd threatened Abu Jahl with stopping the Meccan trade route to Syria and informed Umayah that his life was threatened by Muhammad [1].

After the Battle of the Trench in 627 (5 AH), when Medina was unsuccessfully besieged by a Meccan army, the Muslims accused the Jewish Banu Qurayza of treacherous dealings with the enemy. They laid siege to their stronghold and the Banu Qurayza surrendered unconditionally after several weeks of siege.[2].

Several members of the Banu Aus pleaded for their old Jewish allies and agreed to Muhammad's proposal that one of their chiefs should judge the matter. Muhammad appointed Sa'd, the Banu Qurayza agreed to his appointment.[3][4][5] Sa'd had been wounded in the earlier battles, and was on the verge of death. He declared that they be judged by the laws of their own religion (Judaism). Invoking Torah law, Sa'd decreed that all adult male members of the tribe should be executed and all women and children enslaved.

Sa'd succumbed to the wounds and died after returning to Medina.

Legacy

William Muir's view

William Muir, a 19th-century Scottish Orientalist, writes:

“ After delivering himself of the bloody decree, he was conducted back upon his ass to Rufeida's tent. But the excitement was fatal to him; the wound burst forth anew. Mahomet hastened to the side of his bed: embracing him, he placed the dying man's head upon his knee and prayed thus : — "O Lord! Verily Sad hath laboured in thy service. He hath believed in thy Prophet, and hath fulfilled his covenant. Wherefore do Thou, O Lord, receive his Spirit with the best reception wherewith Thou receivest a departing soul!" Sad heard the words, and in faltering accents whispered, - "Peace be on thee, O Apostle of God! - Verily I testify that thou art the Prophet of the Lord." When he had breathed his last, they carried home the corpse.[6] After the forenoon prayer, Mahomet proceeded to join the burial; he reached the house as they were washing the body. The mother of Sad, weeping loudly, gave vent to her grief in appropriate Arab verse. They chided her for reciting poetry on such an occasion; but Mahomet met interposed, saying: "Leave her alone; all other poets lie but she?" The bier was then carried forth, Mahomet helping to bear it for the first[2] ”

Muslim view

He dutifully served as a member of the Muslim community and even commanded military campaigns for the Prophet during his lifetime. Saad is said to have been a stern, just and passionate man, willing to impulsively fight for what he believed in. In Muslim history, he is well regarded as a noble companion who enjoyed a close relationship with the Prophet.

References

  1. ^ a b c Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:286
  2. ^ a b A Life of Mahomet and History of Islam to the Era of the Hegira, volume 3, page.
  3. ^ Mohammed Abu-Nimer (2000-2001). "A Framework for Nonviolence and Peacebuilding in Islam". Journal of Law and Religion 15 (1–2): 247. 
  4. ^ Hashmi, Sohail H.; Buchanan, Allen E; Moore, Margaret (2003). States, Nations, and Borders: The Ethics of Making Boundaries. Cambridge University Press. 
  5. ^ Khadduri, Majid (1955). War And Peace in the Law of Islam. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. 
  6. ^ William Muir adds: Accounts greatly vary, as usual. Some make Sad to have been taken by his tribe from the tent to his home, where he became very ill, and died. Others say that the wound broke out in the tent, into which Mahomet hurried, and clasping the dying man was covered with his blood. Others again hold that Gabriel appeared at midnight, and announced the death of Sad to Mahomet, who hastened to his bedside and round that he had just died. The tale of Sad is surrounded with supernatural associations. For instance, when Mahomet went to be present at the washing of the body, he walked so rapidly that the people could scarcely keep up with him : - "You would have thought the thongs of their sandals would have broken, and their mantles fallen from their shoulders, they hurried so fast." when they asked the reason, he replied: "Verily, I fear lest the Angels should reach his house before us, as they got before us unto Hantzala; " - alluding to the burial of the latter, and the supposed washing of his corpse by the angels. Then there are numerous legends about the angels crowding into the room where the corpse was laid out, and one of them spreading out his wing for Mahomet to sit upon. K. Wackidi, 204. See Inrod. vol. i. p. lxv. I believe all these traditions to hang upon the reply of Mahomet as given below to the Disaffected, viz. that the bier was light, because supported by a crowd of Angels.

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