In short
- In Arabic
- سعد بن أبي وقاص
- Name
- Saad ibn Malik (Abu Waqqas) ibn Uhayb
- Kunyah
- Abu Ishaq
- Tribe
- Banu Zuhrah, of Quraysh, the clan of the Prophet's ﷺ mother Aminah
- Accepted Islam
- Among the first, through Abu Bakr, at about seventeen
- Known for
- The first arrow in Allah's cause; commander at al-Qadisiyyah; founder of Kufa
- Died
- In al-Aqiq near Madinah, 55 AH (675 CE) by the most common report
- Buried
- Al-Baqi, Madinah
In short: Saad accepted Islam as a young man through Abu Bakr, so early that he said he was for a while "a third of Islam".1 His mother swore not to eat or drink until he left Islam, and Allah revealed verses about it. He was a famous archer: at Uhud the Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Shoot, may my father and mother be ransomed for you". Under Umar he commanded the army that defeated the Persians at al-Qadisiyyah and founded Kufa. He kept away from the civil wars and died near Madinah, the last of the Muhajirun to die.
How he accepted Islam
Ibn Ishaq lists Saad among those who accepted Islam through Abu Bakr.2 He said: "No one accepted Islam before the day I did, and I stayed seven days as a third of Islam".1 His mother swore she would not speak to him, eat or drink until he left his religion. After three days she fainted from hunger. Allah then revealed the verse about parents who try to make a child associate others with Allah:3
وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًۭا ۖ وَٱتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
Wa in jaahadaaka 'alaaa an tushrika bee maa laisa laka bihee 'ilmun falaa tuti'humaa wa saahib humaa fid dunyaa ma'roofanw wattabi' sabeela man anaaba ilayy; summa ilaiya marji'ukum fa unabbi'ukum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
Quran 31:15 · Sahih International · Read Surah Luqman
Key events
Saad said: "I was the first of the Arabs to shoot an arrow in the cause of Allah", on an early expedition.4 He fought at Badr and stood by the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ once pointed to him and said, "This is my maternal uncle, so let a man show me his maternal uncle", because Saad was from the clan of his mother.5 In the year of the Farewell Hajj he fell gravely ill in Makkah and asked to give two thirds of his wealth in charity. The Prophet ﷺ said: "A third, and a third is a lot. Leaving your heirs rich is better than leaving them poor, begging from people".6 This is the basis of the one-third limit on bequests; see the Islamic will.
Under Umar he led the Muslim army against the Persian empire at al-Qadisiyyah (about 15 AH), then took the Persian capital al-Madain, and founded the city of Kufa, which he governed.7 Umar named him one of the six to choose the caliph after him.8 During the trials after Uthman's killing he stayed away from the fighting.
His virtues in the hadith
ارْمِ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي
Ali said he never saw the Prophet ﷺ say "may my father and mother be ransomed for you" to anyone after Saad. He heard him say: "Shoot, may my father and mother be ransomed for you."
Sahih al-Bukhari 2905 and 4059 · narrated by Ali · sahih
- The Prophet ﷺ prayed: "O Allah, answer Saad when he calls on You". Saad was known for prayers that were answered.9
- He is one of the ten promised Paradise by name.10
His death
Saad died at his home in al-Aqiq, a few miles from Madinah, and was carried to Madinah and buried in al-Baqi. The most common date is 55 AH; other reports range from 51 to 58 AH. He was the last of the ten promised Paradise to die.7 He asked to be shrouded in an old woollen cloak in which he had fought at Badr.
Lessons from his life
- Kindness to parents does not mean obeying them in disbelief: "do not obey them, but accompany them in this world with kindness" (31:15).
- Moderation in giving: a third is a lot.
- A clean livelihood and a pure heart make dua answered.
- Staying out of fitnah can be a form of wisdom.
In the seerah
Saad's life is woven into the life of the Prophet ﷺ. For the whole story in order, see the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ life timeline, and for the battles and turning points, the seerah events. More Companions are on the Sahaba page, and the meaning of the word is on Sahaba meaning.
Questions
How do you spell Saad ibn Abi Waqqas?
The Arabic is سعد بن أبي وقاص. It is written Saad, Sad or Sa'd, and Waqqas or Waqas. Ibn and bin both mean son of.
Was Saad ibn Abi Waqqas related to the Prophet ﷺ?
Yes, through his mother's side. Saad was from Banu Zuhrah, the clan of the Prophet's ﷺ mother Aminah, so the Prophet ﷺ called him his maternal uncle (Tirmidhi 3752).
Why were Saad's prayers answered?
The Prophet ﷺ prayed for him: "O Allah, answer Saad when he calls on You" (Tirmidhi 3751, graded sahih).
What battle did Saad ibn Abi Waqqas win?
He commanded the Muslim army at al-Qadisiyyah, about 15 AH (636 CE), which defeated the Persian Sasanian army.
When did Saad ibn Abi Waqqas die?
In 55 AH (675 CE) according to most reports, at al-Aqiq near Madinah. He was buried in al-Baqi and was the last of the ten promised Paradise to die.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3727, from Saad.
- Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, from Ibn Ishaq.
- Sahih Muslim 1748, from Mus'ab ibn Sad.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3728, from Saad.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3752, from Jabir; graded hasan by al-Tirmidhi and sahih by al-Albani.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1295, from Saad.
- Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah; Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3700.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3751, from Saad, graded sahih by al-Albani.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3747, graded sahih.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2905 and 4059, from Ali.
- Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Uthmani text, transliteration from Tanzil, English by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic is the standard wording of the collection named; gradings are given for every hadith outside al-Bukhari and Muslim.