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SA'D IBN ABI WAQQAAS
The Lion's Claws!
A continuous stream of incoming news worried the Commander of the Faithful `Umar lbn Al-
khattab. This news was about the deceitful attacks launched by the Persian forces against the Muslims at
the Battle of Al-Jisr which cost the Muslims 4,000 lives in a single day and, moreover, about the Iraqis'
renouncement of allegiance and their violation of agreed-upon convenants. Therefore, he decided to
personally lead the Muslim troops in a decisive fight against Persia. In fact, he set out accompanied by
some of his companions, leaving `Aliy lbn Abi Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) behind to act as
his deputy over Al-Madiinah.
However, he had hardly left Al-Madiinah when some of his companions found it wiser to ask him to
return and appoint someone else for this task.
This view was adopted by `Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn `Awf, who saw it unwise to risk the caliph's life in
such a way while Islam was going through its most decisive days.
`Umar ordered the Muslims to gather for public consultation. Congregational prayer was then
announced and `Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib was sent for. He went with some Madinites to where `Umar and his
companions were waiting. At last, they accepted `Abd Ar-Rahman lbn `Awfs opinion. The assembly
decided that `Umar was to go back to Al-Madiinah and another Muslim leader be chosen to combat the
Persians.
`Umar agreed to their decision, then asked his companions, "Whom do you see fit to be sent to
Iraq?" They thought silently for a while. Then `Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn `Awf shouted, "I've found him!"
`Umar said, "Who is it?" `Abd Ar-Rahman said, "The Lion's Claws: Sa'd Ibn Maalik Az-Zuhariy."
The Muslims supported his choice. `Umar then sent for Sa'd Ibn Maalik Az-Zuhariy, also known as
Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas and appointed him governor of Iraq and Commander of the Army.
Who is that "Lion's Claws"? It is he who, whenever he turned to the Prophet while sitting among his
Companions, was greeted cheerfully by the Prophet saying, "He's my maternal uncle."
Can anyone tell me who his uncle was? He was Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas His grandfather was Uhaib
Ibn Manaaf, the paternal uncle of Aaminah, the mother of the Prophet (PBUH). He accepted Islam when
he was 17 years old. He embraced Islam very early. When he talked about himself, he said, "I witnessed
a day in which I was third in Islam," which means that he was the third to embrace Islam.
When the Prophet (PBUH) spoke about the One God and about the new religion whose teachings he
was to spread all around, and before using Daar Al-Arqam as a refuge for himself and the Companions in
those early days, Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas had already sworn the oath of allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH).
Historical and biographical sources inform us that the conversion of Abu Bakr was the reason for
Sa'd's embracing Islam. He may have been one of those who announced their belief in Islam after Abu
Bakr convinced them. This group included Uthmaan lbn `Afaan, Az-Zubair Ibn Al-'Awaam, Abd Ar-
Rahman Ibn `Awf and Allah Ibn Ubaid Allah. However, that does not omit the possibility that his
conversion had taken place secretly and he had believed even earlier.
Sa'd lbn Abi Waqqaas had many noble qualities which he could be proud of. However, he never
arrogantly mentioned any of these merits, except for two great privileges. First, he was the first to throw
a spear in the cause of Allah and the first to be struck by one. Second, he was the only one for whom the
Prophet (PBUH) hoped his parents might be his ransom. That happened when the Prophet (PBUH) said