WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.539 --> 00:00:17.539 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:22.539 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:22.539 --> 00:00:25.539 authored by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:30.070 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:30.070 --> 00:00:34.299 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:53.659 On the day the light of prophethood illuminated Yathrib, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:56.659 was a knight among the most influential knights of Yathrib in status, 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:00.659 possessing the highest authority and the most expansive prestige. 00:01:00.659 --> 00:01:03.659 He stood at the pinnacle of Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal, 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:07.659 while Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal stood at the pinnacle of the Aws clan, 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:10.659 and he was the young leader and master of the Aws. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:14.659 He listened to the news of the Meccan caller to Islam, Mus'hab ibn 'Umayr, 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:17.659 yet paid it little attention. 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:22.659 He knew that Mus'hab had settled as a guest of his maternal cousin, As'ad ibn Zurarah, 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:28.659 and that they were cooperating to spread the call to the new religion throughout Yathrib. 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:33.659 However, he refrained from obstructing their path out of respect for his cousin's rights over him. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:39.849 While the master of the Aws was walking in the outskirts of the homes of Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal, 00:01:39.849 --> 00:01:42.849 accompanied by Usayd ibn al-Hudayr, 00:01:42.849 --> 00:01:48.849 he suddenly spotted the Meccan caller and his host in an orchard near his people's dwellings, 00:01:48.849 --> 00:01:51.849 resting in the shade of its palm trees 00:01:51.849 --> 00:01:54.849 and drinking from its well, 00:01:54.849 --> 00:01:59.849 surrounded by a group of believers in the new religion 00:01:59.849 --> 00:02:03.849 who had gathered around Mus'hab, asking him to instruct them in Allah's religion 00:02:03.849 --> 00:02:06.849 and to recite to them portions of the Book of Allah. 00:02:06.849 --> 00:02:09.879 This deeply offended the master of the Aws, 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:14.879 and it pained him that the boldness of his cousin and his guest had reached such an extent 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:18.879 that they openly proclaimed the religion of Muhammad in his very stronghold. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.879 So he said to Usayd ibn al-Hudayr: 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:23.879 "May you not lack a father, O Usayd! 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:27.879 Go to those two and deal with this Meccan man 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.879 who has come to slander our religion, 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.879 revile our gods, and beguile our weak-minded ones. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.879 Rebuke him sternly so that he never approaches our homes after today." 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:40.879 He then added, saying: 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.879 "Were it not that Ibn Zurarah is my cousin, 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:45.879 holding the close relation to me that you know, 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:47.879 I would have spared you the task, 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:50.879 and I would have dealt with them myself." 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.909 Usayd ibn al-Hudayr grabbed his spear 00:02:53.909 --> 00:02:55.909 and headed toward As'ad ibn Zurarah 00:02:55.909 --> 00:02:58.909 and his companion, Mus'hab ibn 'Umayr, 00:02:58.909 --> 00:03:00.909 until he stood directly before them. 00:03:00.909 --> 00:03:03.909 Mus'hab greeted him with a cheerful face 00:03:03.909 --> 00:03:05.909 and gentle words, 00:03:05.909 --> 00:03:07.909 beginning to invite him to Islam. 00:03:07.909 --> 00:03:10.909 He started reciting verses from the Qur'an to him— 00:03:10.909 --> 00:03:13.909 verses capable of softening hardened hearts 00:03:13.909 --> 00:03:15.909 and winning over averse souls— 00:03:15.909 --> 00:03:19.909 until Usayd's face beamed and his countenance relaxed. 00:03:19.909 --> 00:03:21.909 He said to Mus'hab: 00:03:21.909 --> 00:03:24.909 "How beautiful and fine these words are! 00:03:24.909 --> 00:03:27.909 What do you do if you wish to enter 00:03:27.909 --> 00:03:29.909 into this new religion?" 00:03:29.909 --> 00:03:32.909 He replied: "You wash yourself, purify your garment, 00:03:32.909 --> 00:03:35.909 testify to the testimony of truth, 00:03:35.909 --> 00:03:37.909 and pray two rak'ahs for Allah. 00:03:37.909 --> 00:03:40.909 And this water is right beside you." 00:03:40.909 --> 00:03:43.909 So Usayd immediately stepped to the water and washed, 00:03:43.909 --> 00:03:46.909 testified to the testimony of truth, 00:03:46.909 --> 00:03:48.909 and prayed two rak'ahs for Allah. 00:03:48.909 --> 00:03:50.909 Then he said to Mus'hab: 00:03:50.909 --> 00:03:52.909 "Behind me is a man who, 00:03:52.909 --> 00:03:56.909 if he follows you two, not a single person from his tribe will lag behind. 00:03:56.909 --> 00:03:58.909 I will send him to you right now, 00:03:58.909 --> 00:04:00.909 so handle him with fine tact." 00:04:00.909 --> 00:04:04.069 Usayd returned to the gathering of his people, 00:04:04.069 --> 00:04:07.069 and when Sa'd ibn Mu'adh saw him approaching, 00:04:07.069 --> 00:04:10.069 he looked at him and said to those around him: 00:04:10.069 --> 00:04:13.069 "I swear by Allah, Usayd has returned to you 00:04:13.069 --> 00:04:16.069 with a different face than the one he left with." 00:04:16.069 --> 00:04:18.069 Then he turned to him and said: 00:04:18.069 --> 00:04:20.069 "What have you done, O Usayd?" 00:04:20.069 --> 00:04:21.069 He replied: 00:04:21.069 --> 00:04:23.069 "I spoke to the two men, 00:04:23.069 --> 00:04:26.069 and by Allah, I saw nothing objectionable in them." 00:04:26.069 --> 00:04:29.069 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh stood up in anger, 00:04:29.069 --> 00:04:32.069 took the spear from Usayd's hand, and said: 00:04:32.069 --> 00:04:35.069 "By Allah, I see you have accomplished nothing! 00:04:35.069 --> 00:04:38.069 If this state of affairs continues like this, 00:04:38.069 --> 00:04:41.069 I will surely find them tomorrow in my own home, 00:04:41.069 --> 00:04:43.069 inviting my wife and children 00:04:43.069 --> 00:04:47.230 to abandon my religion and the religion of my forefathers!" 00:04:47.230 --> 00:04:50.230 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh marched toward where 00:04:50.230 --> 00:04:52.259 Mus'hab and his companion were sitting. 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:54.259 When his cousin, 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:56.259 As'ad ibn Zurarah, saw him approaching, 00:04:56.259 --> 00:04:58.259 he said to Mus'hab: 00:04:58.259 --> 00:04:59.259 "O Mus'hab! 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:02.259 By Allah, the master of his people has come to you! 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:04.259 If he follows you, 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:07.259 not a single one of them will stay behind. 00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:09.259 So consider carefully how you will handle him." 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:13.259 No sooner had Sa'd reached them and stood over them, 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:15.259 than he turned sharply toward his cousin 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:17.259 and confronted him, saying: 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:19.259 "O Abu Umamah! 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:20.259 By Allah, 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:23.259 were it not for the kinship between you and me, 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:25.259 you would not have dared treat me like this! 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:28.259 Do you intrude upon our homes with that which we hate?" 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:31.360 Mus'hab ibn 'Umayr intervened 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.360 with his cheerful face and sweet words, 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:37.360 saying: "Will you not sit and listen? 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:40.360 If you are pleased with what we say and desire it, 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:42.360 you may accept our call; 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:46.360 and if you dislike it, we will depart from you at once." 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.360 These words softened Sa'd's heart, and he said: 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.360 "By Allah, that is fair. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:53.360 Present what you have." 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:55.459 So Mus'hab began 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:57.459 presenting Islam to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh 00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:00.550 in the most beautiful manner possible, 00:06:00.550 --> 00:06:02.550 and recited to him from the Qur'an 00:06:02.550 --> 00:06:04.550 that which humbled his heart, 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:06.550 brought serenity to his limbs, 00:06:06.550 --> 00:06:08.550 and lifted his soul in devotion. 00:06:08.550 --> 00:06:11.550 It was not long before he said to Mus'hab: 00:06:11.550 --> 00:06:15.550 "What does one do who wishes to enter into this goodness? 00:06:15.550 --> 00:06:18.550 By Allah, I have never heard speech more righteous 00:06:18.550 --> 00:06:20.550 or noble than this." 00:06:20.550 --> 00:06:23.680 The master of the Aws did not leave his spot 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.680 until he had declared the word of truth 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:28.680 and joined the caravan of faith. 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:32.060 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh picked up his spear 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:35.060 and turned back to the gathering of his people. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:38.060 When they saw him approaching, they said: 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.060 "We swear by Allah, 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:44.060 Sa'd has returned to you with a different face than the one he left with." 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:47.060 When he reached the gathering, he said: 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:49.060 "O Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal! 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:52.060 How do you know my standing among you?" 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:54.060 They said: "You are our master in truth, 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:56.060 the best of us in judgment, 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:58.100 and the most complete of us in intellect." 00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:03.100 He said: "Then the speech of your men and women is forbidden to me 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:08.319 until you believe in Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him." 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:12.319 By evening, there was not a single man or woman in the homes of Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.579 except that they had become Muslims. 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:17.579 From that day onward, 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:19.579 Mus'hab ibn 'Umayr— 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:21.579 the first messenger of Islam— 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:25.579 moved to the home of the master of the Aws, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:28.610 taking his house as a sanctuary for the call, 00:07:28.610 --> 00:07:31.610 until there remained not a single household among the Ansar 00:07:31.610 --> 00:07:36.610 except that it contained Muslim men and Muslim women. 00:07:36.610 --> 00:07:41.610 Thus, the gates of Yathrib were opened wide before the Emigrants from Mecca, 00:07:41.610 --> 00:07:45.610 who began arriving in groups and individually, 00:07:45.610 --> 00:07:49.610 finding within its borders protection and security. 00:07:49.610 --> 00:07:53.959 Indeed, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh's acceptance of Islam was a great blessing for Islam 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:56.959 and a source of grace for the Muslims. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:00.959 He displayed monumental stances in supporting the call, 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.959 filling the noble Prophet's heart, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:06.959 with love and admiration for him. 00:08:07.149 --> 00:08:12.149 On the day of Badr, when the Messenger, peace be upon him, set out 00:08:12.149 --> 00:08:14.149 to intercept the caravan of Quraysh, 00:08:14.149 --> 00:08:18.149 he soon found himself in a critical situation. 00:08:18.149 --> 00:08:23.149 This was because the Muslims had set out with the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:08:23.149 --> 00:08:26.149 merely to capture a caravan 00:08:26.149 --> 00:08:30.149 guarded by no more than forty men; 00:08:30.149 --> 00:08:34.149 however, the situation suddenly shifted into a confrontation with a formidable army 00:08:34.149 --> 00:08:40.149 driven by obstinacy, fueled by grudges, and impelled by defiance. 00:08:40.149 --> 00:08:44.149 The noble Messenger, peace be upon him, had with him 00:08:44.149 --> 00:08:48.149 only three hundred and seventeen men, 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:51.149 and he had to make a decisive choice: 00:08:51.149 --> 00:08:54.179 either return to Medina, 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:58.179 leaving the army of the idolaters to range freely through the land 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:03.179 and flaunt its power before the tribes dwelling between Mecca and Medina, 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:08.179 or confront the massive idolater army with his small force. 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:13.440 This decision hinged upon the stance of the Ansar, 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.440 because the bulk of his army was drawn from them, 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:20.440 and they were the ones who would bear the brunt of the battle on their shoulders. 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:26.600 Furthermore, when they gave allegiance to the Messenger, peace be upon him, at the Second Pledge of 'Aqabah, 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:32.600 they pledged to protect him only as they protected themselves, their children, and their families, 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:36.600 without promising to fight alongside him outside their own lands. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:39.659 At that moment, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh stood up 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:43.659 and announced in decisive, resolute words 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:48.659 the determination of the Ansar to engage in battle alongside the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:51.659 He said: "O Messenger of Allah! 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:54.659 We have believed in you, affirmed your truth, 00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:59.659 and given you our oaths and covenants to hear and obey. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:02.659 So proceed, O Messenger of Allah, to whatever you intend! 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:04.659 For by Him Who sent you with the truth, 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:07.659 if you were to cross this sea with us, 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:09.659 we would plunge into it with you! 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:11.659 Indeed, O Messenger of Allah, we are 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.659 steadfast in war, 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:14.659 truthful upon encounter! 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:18.659 And perhaps Allah will show you from us that which delights your eyes." 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:21.700 The Messenger, peace be upon him, was overjoyed 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:24.700 with the utmost joy and delight by this. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:27.700 He entrusted the banner of the Ansar to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:31.700 and the banner of the Emigrants to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib. 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:33.820 On the day of the Trench, 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:36.820 Sa'd had another legendary stance; 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:39.820 when the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:43.820 saw the severity of the siege imposed by the Confederates upon the people of Medina, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.820 he wished to lighten their burden, 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:48.820 So he negotiated with the leaders of Ghatafan 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:51.820 to offer them a third of Medina's produce 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:54.820 if they abandoned fighting the Muslims, 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:56.820 and they agreed to those terms. 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.820 When Sa'd ibn Mu'adh learned 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:02.820 of what was transpiring between the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:03.820 and Ghatafan, 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.820 he approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:09.820 and asked, "Is this something you desire, 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.820 so that we may execute it for you? 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:13.820 Or is it something Allah has commanded you to do, 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:15.820 so that we must hear and obey? 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:19.820 Or is it a strategy you are devising for us to lighten our burden?" 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:21.820 The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:24.820 "Rather, it is something I am doing for your sake. 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:26.820 By Allah, I only initiated this 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:30.820 because I saw the Arabs uniting against you as one single bow." 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:33.820 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh said to him, 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:35.820 "O Messenger of Allah, 00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:41.820 by Allah, we and these people were once steeped in polytheism and idol worship, 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:46.820 and they never aspired to take a single fruit from us except through purchase or hospitality! 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:49.919 Now that Allah has honored us with Islam 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:51.919 and dignified us through you, 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.919 shall we give them our wealth? 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.919 By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.919 we shall give them nothing but the sword 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.919 until Allah judges between us and them, 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.019 for He is the best of judges!" 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:07.019 The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) was overjoyed 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:09.019 by Sa'd's words 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:11.110 and called off the arrangement. 00:12:11.110 --> 00:12:13.110 On that very day of the Trench, 00:12:13.110 --> 00:12:16.110 Sa'd was struck by an arrow that severed his medial arm vein, 00:12:16.110 --> 00:12:19.110 bringing him to the brink of death. 00:12:19.110 --> 00:12:23.110 As the young hero of Islam, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, lay dying, 00:12:23.110 --> 00:12:29.110 the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) placed Sa'd's head in his lap, 00:12:29.110 --> 00:12:32.110 covered him with a white garment, 00:12:32.110 --> 00:12:36.210 and looked at him with profound sorrow and grief, praying: 00:12:36.210 --> 00:12:39.210 "O Allah, indeed Sa'd strove in Your cause, 00:12:39.210 --> 00:12:41.210 believed Your Messenger, 00:12:41.210 --> 00:12:43.210 and fulfilled his duty. 00:12:43.210 --> 00:12:47.210 So receive his soul with the best reception You have ever granted any soul." 00:12:47.210 --> 00:12:50.210 At that, Sa'd's face brightened with joy 00:12:50.210 --> 00:12:52.210 even as he wrestled with the pangs of death, 00:12:52.210 --> 00:12:55.210 and he opened his eyes and said, 00:12:55.210 --> 00:12:58.210 "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. 00:12:58.210 --> 00:13:01.210 I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." 00:13:01.210 --> 00:13:07.799 Then his pure soul departed. 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:09.830 Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, 00:13:09.830 --> 00:13:12.830 the standard-bearer of the Ansar at Badr.