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We are now in a small town in a narrow valley. There is no vegetation, no
livestock, no gardens, no rivers. Desert after desert separates the town from
the rest of the world. During the day the heat of the sun is unbearable and the
nights are still and lonely. Tribes flock to it like animals in the open country
flock to a water-hole. No government rules. There is no religion to guide people
except one which promotes the worship of stone idols. There is no knowledge
except priestcraft and a love for ele gant poetry. This is Makkah and these are
the Arabs.
In this town lies a young man who has not yet seen twenty summers. He is
short and well-built and has a very heavy crop of hair. People compare him to a
young lion. He comes from a rich and noble family. He is very attached to his
parents and is particul arly fond of his mother. He spends much of his time
making and repairing bows and arrows and practising archery as if preparing
himself for some great encounter. People recognize him as a serious and
intelligent young man. He finds no satisfaction in the religion and way of life
of his people, their corrupt beliefs and disagreeable practices. His name is Sad
ibn Abi Waqqas.
One morning at about this time in his life the genial Abu Bakr came up and
spoke softly to him. He explained that Muhammad ibn Abdullah the son of his late
cousin Aminah bint Wahb had been given Revelations and sent with the religion of
guidance and truth . Abu Bakr then took him to Muhammad in one of the valleys of
Makkah. It was late afternoon by this time and the Prophet had just prayed Salat
al-Asr. Sad was excited and overwhelmed and responded readily to the invitation
to truth and the religion of One God. The fact that he was one of the first
persons to accept Islam was something that pleased him greatly.
The Prophet, peace be on him, was also greatly pleased when Sad became a
Muslim. He saw in him signs of excellence. The fact that he was still in his
youth promised great things to come. It was as if this glowing crescent would
become a shining full moon before long. Perhaps other young people of Makkah
would follow his example, including some of his relations. For Sad ibn Abi
Waqqas was in fact a maternal uncle of the Prophet since he belonged to the Bani
Zuhrah, the clan of Aminah bint Wahb, the mother of the Prophet, peace be upon
him. For this reason he is sometimes referred to as Sad of Zuhrah, to
distinguish him from several others whose first name was Sad.
The Prophet is reported to have been pleased with his family relationship to
Sad. Once as he was sitting with his companions, he saw Sad approaching and he
said to them: "This is my maternal uncle. Let a man see his maternal uncle!"
While the Prophet was delighted with Sad's acceptance of Islam, others
including and especially his mother were not. Sad relates: "When my mother heard
the news of my Islam, she flew into a rage. She came up to me and said:
"O Sad! What is this religion that you have embraced which has taken you away
from the religion of your mother and father...? By God, either you forsake your
new religion or I would not eat or drink until I die. Your heart would be broken
with grief for m e and remorse would consume you on account of the deed which
you have done and people would censure you forever more.'
'Don't do (such a thing), my mother,' I said, 'for I would not give up my
religion for anything.'
However, she went on with her threat... For days she neither ate nor drank.
She became emaciated and weak. Hour after hour, I went to her asking whether I
should bring her some food or something to drink but she persistently refused,
insisting that she wo uld neither eat nor drink until she died or I abandoned my
religion. I said to her:
'Yaa Ummaah! In spite of my strong love for you, my love for God and His
Messenger is indeed stronger. By God, if you had a thousand souls and one soul
after another were to depart, I would not abandon this my religion for
anything.' When she saw that I w as determined she relented unwillingly and ate
and drank."
It was concerning Sad's relationship with his mother and her attempt to force
him to recant his faith that the words of the Quran were revealed: "And we
enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In pain upon pain did his mother
bear him and his weaning took two years. So show gratitude to Me and to your
parents. To Me is the final destiny.
"But if they strive to make you join in worship with Me things of which you
have no knowledge, obey them not. Yet bear them company in this life with
justice and consideration and follow the way of those who turn to Me. In the
end, the return of you all i s to Me and I shall tell you (the truth and meaning
of) all that you used to do." (Surah Luqman, 31: 14-15).
In these early days of Islam, the Muslims were careful not to arouse the
sensibilities of the Quraysh. They would often go out together in groups to the
glens outside Makkah where they could pray together without being seen. But one
day a number of idolat ers came upon them while they were praying and rudely
interrupted them with ridicule. The Muslims felt they could not suffer these
indignities passively and they came to blows with the idolaters. Sad ibn Abi
Waqqas struck one of the disbelievers with the jawbone of a camel and wounded
him. This was the first blood shed in the conflict between Islam and kufr - a
conflict that was later to escalate and test the patience and courage of the
Muslims.
After the incident, however, the Prophet enjoined his companions to be
patient and forbearing for this was the command of God: "And bear with patience
what they say and avoid them with noble dignity. And leave Me alone to deal with
those who give the lie to the Truth, those who enjoy the blessings of life
(without any thought of God) and bear with them for a little while." (The
Quran, Surah al Muzzammil, 71: 1O).
More than a decade later when permission was given for the Muslims to fight.
Sad ibn Abi Waqqas was to play a distinguished role in many of the engagements
that took place both during the time of the Prophet and after. He fought at Badr
together with his young brother Umayr who had cried to be allowed to accompany
the Muslim army for he was only in his early teens. Sad returned to Madinah
alone for Umayr was one of the fourteen Muslim martyrs who fell in the battle.
At the Battle of Uhud, Sad was specially chosen as one of the best archers
together with Zayd, Saib the son of Uthman ibn Mazun and others. Sad was one of
those who fought vigorously in defence of the Prophet after some Muslims had
deserted their positi ons. To urge him on, the Prophet, peace be on him, said:
"Irmi Sad...Fidaaka Abi wa Ummi " Shoot, Sad ...may my mother and father be your
ransom."
Of this occasion, Ali ibn Abi Talib said that he had not yet heard the
Prophet, peace be on him, promising such a ransom to anyone except Sad. Sad is
also known as the first companion to have shot an arrow in defence of Islam. And
the Prophet once prayed for him:
"O Lord, direct his shooting and respond to his prayer." Sad was one of the
companions of the Prophet who was blessed with great wealth. Just as he was
known for his bravery, so he was known for his generosity. During the Farewell
Pilgrimage with the Prop het, he fell ill. The Prophet came to visit him and Sad
said:
"O Messenger of God. I have wealth and I only have one daughter to inherit
from me. Shall I give two thirds of my wealth as sadaqah?"
"No," replied the Prophet.
"Then, (shall I give) a half?" asked Sad and the Prophet again said 'no'.
"Then, (shall I give) a third?' asked Sad.
"Yes," said the Prophet. "The third is much. Indeed to leave your heirs
well-off' is better than that you should leave them dependent on and to beg from
people. If you spend anything seeking to gain thereby the pleasure of God, you
will be rewarded for it even if it is a morsel which you place in your wife's
mouth."
Sad did not remain the father of just one child but was blessed thereafter
with many children.
Sad is mainly renowned as the commander-in-chief of the strong Muslim army
which Umar despatched to confront the Persians at Qadisiyyah. Umar wanted
nothing less than an end to Sasanian power which for centuries had dominated the
region.
To confront the numerous and well-equipped Persians was a most daunting task.
The most powerful force had to be mustered. Umar sent despatches to Muslim
governors throughout the state to mobilize all able-bodied persons who had
weapons or mounts, or who h ad talents of oratory and other skills to place at
the service of the battle.
Bands of Mujahidin then converged on Madinah from every part of the Muslim
domain. When they had all gathered, Umar consulted the leading Muslims about the
appointment of a commander-in-chief over the mighty army. Umar himself thought
of leading the army but Ali suggested that the Muslims were in great need of him
and he should not endanger his life. Sad was then chosen as commander and
Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl, one of the veterans among the Sahabah said:
"You have chosen well! Who is there like Sad?" Umar stood before the great
army and bade farewell to them. To the commander-in-chief he said:
"O Sad! Let not any statement that you are the uncle of the Messenger of God
or that you are the companion of the Messenger of God distract you from God. God
Almighty does not obliterate evil with evil but he wipes out evil with good.
"O Sad! There is no connection between God and anyone except obedience to
Him. In the sight of God all people whether nobleman or commoner are the same.
Allah is their Lord and they are His servants seeking elevation through taqwa
and seeking to obtain wh at is with God through obedience. Consider how the
Messenger of God used to act with the Muslims and act accordingly..."
Umar thus made it clear that the army was not to seek conquest for the sake
of it and that the expedition was not for seeking personal glory and fame.
The three thousand strong army set off. Among them were ninety nine veterans
of Badr, more than three hundred of those who took the Pledge of Riffwan
(Satisfaction) at Hudaybiyyah and three hundred of those who had participated in
the liberation of Makk ah with the noble Prophet. There were seven hundred sons
of the companions. Thousands of women also went on to battle as auxiliaries and
nurses and to urge the men on to battle.
The army camped at Qadisiyyah near Hira. Against them the Persians had
mobilized a force of 12O,OOO men under the leadership of their most brilliant
commander, Rustum.
Umar had instructed Sad to send him regular despatches about the condition
and movements of the Muslim forces, and of the deployment of the enemy's forces.
Sad wrote to Umar about the unprecedented force that the Persians were
mobilizing and Umar wrote to him:
"Do not be troubled by what you hear about them nor about the (forces,
equipment and methods) they would deploy against you. Seek help with God and put
your trust in Him and send men of insight, knowledge and toughness to him (the
Chosroes) to invite him to God... And write to me daily."
Sad understood well the gravity of the impending battle and kept in close
contact with the military high command in Madinah. Although commander-in-chief,
he understood the importance of shura.
Sad did as Umar instructed and sent delegations of Muslims first to Yazdagird
and then to Rustum, inviting them to accept Islam or to pay the jizyah to
guarantee their protection and peaceful existence or to choose war if they so
desired.
The first Muslim delegation which included Numan ibn Muqarrin was ridiculed
by the Persian Emperor, Yazdagird. Sad sent a delegation to Rustum, the
commander of the Persian forces. This was led by Rubiy ibn Aamir who, with spear
in hand, went directly to Rustam's encampment. Rustam said to him:
"Rubiy! What do you want from us? If you want wealth we would give you. We
would provide you with provisions until you are sated. We would clothe you. We
would make you become rich and happy. Look, Rubiy! What do you see in this
assembly of mine? No doub t you see signs of richness and luxury, these lush
carpets, fine curtains, gold embroidered wails, carpets of silk...Do you have
any desire that we should bestow some of these riches which we have on you?"
Rustum thus wanted to impress the Muslim and allure him from his purpose by
this show of opulence and grandeur. Rubiy looked and listened unmoved and then
said:
"Listen, O commander! Certainly God has chosen us that through us those of
His creation whom He so desires could be drawn away from the worship of idols to
Tawhid (the affirmation of the unity of God), from the narrow confines of
preoccupation with this w orld to its boundless expanse and from the tyranny of
rulers to justice of Islam.
"Whoever accepts that from us we are prepared to welcome him. And whoever
fights us, we would fight him until the promise of God comes to pass."
"And what is the promise of God to you?" asked Rustum.
"Paradise for our martyrs and victory for those who live."
Rustum of course was not inclined to listen to such talk from a seemingly
wretched person the likes of whom the Persians regarded as barbaric and
uncivilized and whom they had conquered and subjugated for centuries.
The Muslim delegation returned to their commanderin-chief. It was clear that
war was now inevitable. Sad's eyes filled with tears. He wished that the battle
could be delayed a little or indeed that it might have been somewhat earlier.
For on this particul ar day he was seriously ill and could hardly move. He was
suffering from sciatica and he could not even sit upright for the pain.
Sad knew that this was going to be a bitter, harsh and bloody battle. And for
a brief moment he thought, if only... but no! The Messenger of God had taught
the Muslims that none of them should say, "If....." To say "If....." implied a
lack of will and de termination and wishing that a situation might have been
different was not the characteristic of a firm believer. So, despite his
illness, Sad got up and stood before his army and addressed them. He began his
speech with a verse from the glorious Quran:
"And indeed after having exhorted (man), We have laid it down in all the
books of Divine wisdom that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth." (Surah al-Anbiyaa, 21:1O5).
The address over, Sad performed Salat az-Zuhr with the army. Facing them once
again, he shouted the Muslim battle cry "Allahu Akbar" four times and directed
the fighters to attack with the words:
"Hayya ala barakatillah Charge, with the blessings of God." Standing in front
of his tent, Sad directed his soldiers and spurred them on with shouts of Allahu
Akbar (God is Most Great) and La hawla wa la quwwata ilia billah (there is no
power or might s ave with God). For four days the battle raged. The Muslims
displayed valor and skill. But a Persian elephant corps wrought havoc in the
ranks of the Muslims. The ferocious battle was only resolved when several
renowned Muslim warriors made a rush in the d irection of the Persian commander.
A storm arose and the canopy of Rustam was blown into the river. As he tried to
flee he was detected and slain. Complete confusion reigned among the Persians
and they fled in disarray.
Just how ferocious the battle was can be imagined when it is known that some
thirty thousand persons on both sides fell in the course of four days' fighting.
In one day alone, some two thousand Muslims and about ten thousand Persians lost
their lives.
The Battle of Qadisiyyah is one of the major decisive battles of world
history. It sealed the fate of the Sasanian Empire just as the Battle of Yarmuk
had sealed the fate of the Byzantine Empire in the east.
Two years after Qadisiyyah, Sad went on to take the Sasanian capital. By then
he had recovered his health. The taking of Ctesiphon was accomplished after a
brilliant crossing of the Tigris river while it was in flood. Sad has thus gone
down in the annals of history as the Hero of Qadisiyyah and the Conqueror of
Ctesiphon.
He lived until he was almost eighty years old. He was blessed with much
influence and wealth but as the time of death approached in the year 54 AH, he
asked his son to open a box in which he had kept a course woolen jubbah and
said: "Shroud me in this, for in this (jubbah) I met the Mushrikin on the day of
Badr and in it I desire to meet God Almighty."
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