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The death of Saad ibn Mu’ath

The death of Saad ibn Mu’ath

Earlier this year, Saad was wounded during the Battle of the Confederates. A man from Quraish called Hibban ibn Al-Ariqah threw a spear at him which landed in the artery in the middle of his arm. As a result, his artery was cut and blood started to flow. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered for a tent to be put up in the mosque to be able to visit him. When the matter of Banu Quraizah was decided, Saad’s wound started to bleed profusely again and consequently he died [related by Al-Bukhari, in the Book of Battles].

About the day Saad was buried, Annas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with us) reported how Saad was honoured, indicating his righteousness and that Allah had accepted his actions. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also bore witness to this.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “When carrying Saad ibn Mu’ath’s corpse, the hypocrites said, “How light the corpse is! This (is what he deserves) because of his (severe) judgment against Banu Quraizah.” When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard this, he said, [related by At-Tirmidhi].

Praise be to Allah! The angels came to this righteous slave to carry him, witness him being prepared for the grave, praying over him and his burial. What great honor was given to this righteous slave!

When Saad’s mother cried on seeing his corpse being carried, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, < Every type of mourning of women (who are employed to weep) over the dead is a form of exaggeration about the deceased. But the mourning of Saad ibn Mu’ath (may Allah be pleased with him) was not (an exaggeration).> [related by Ibn Saad in At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra].

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) told us that when Saad was being buried, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) looked at us when we had buried Saad. We had placed milk and water at his grave...the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made ablution at Saad’s grave and then prayed over him. The area was filled with people” [related by Ibn Saad in At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra]. 

After Saad was buried, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept glorifying Allah and the people also kept glorifying Allah, for a long time. Next, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) exalted Allah by saying, “Allah is the greatest,” and the people also exalted Allah. Then they asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) why he had done that. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied, [related by Ahmed]. This does not mean Saad was being punished. It was referring to the restriction of the grave which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) told us about, saying, [related by Ahmed].

After Saad’s burial, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stopped to talk to his companions about this martyr, the good slave for whom the gates of heaven were opened, and for whom 7000 angels who had not descended to the earth before came down to witness his burial [see Ibn Saad’s At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra], even the throne of the Most Merciful above the seven heavens shook on his death in honour of him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, [related by Al-Bukhari].

He is the brilliant knight and the pure believer who judged about Banu Quraizah, although he used to be their ally and helper, with Allah’s judgment from above the seven heavens. It is the master of Al-Aws, Saad ibn Mu’ath Al-Ansari Al-Awsi (may Allah be pleased with him).