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Sa'd lived long. He secluded himself during the period of civil strife following the death of the third
Caliph, `Uthmaan. Furthermore, he ordered his whole family and children not to tell him any news about
what was happening.
Once, everyone was anxious to know his position, when his nephew Haashim Ibn `Utbah lbn Abi
Waqqaas said to him, "O uncle, here are 100,000 swords which consider you the more entitled to that
matter (i.e. the caliphate)." Sa'd responded, "I want out of the 100,000 swords, just one sword that if it
hits a believer it won't do anything, but if it hits a disbeliever it cuts through."
His nephew realized what he meant and left him in his isolation and security.
When the dispute ended in favor of Mu'aawiyah, who took over the reins of government, he asked
Sa'd, `Why didn't you fight with us?" He answered, "A dark cloud passed over me. I told it, Shoo! Shoo!
I stopped my riding camel until it passed away." Mu'aawiyah said, "Shoo! Shoo can not be found in the
glorious Book of Allah, but Allah said "And if two parties or groups among the believers fall into
fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you
(all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah" (49 : 9). And you did
not take anyone's side. You weren't with the unjust against the just, nor were you with the just against the
unjust." Hereupon Sa'd responded, "I wouldn't have fought a man (he meant `Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib) to
whom the Prophet (PBUH) said, "You have towards me the same position Haaruun (Aaron) had towards
Muusaa (Moses), except that there isn't any Prophet coming after me."
One day in A.H. 54, having exceeded the age of 80, he was at his house in Al-`Aqiiq preparing to
meet Allah.
His son spoke of his final moments: His head was upon my lap, he was passing away. I cried, but he
said, "What makes You cry, my son? Allah will never torture me. I belong to Paradise!"
The firmness of his faith could not be weakened even by the quaking fear of death. The Prophet
(PBUH) had passed him the good news and he believed firmly in the Prophet's honesty; therefore what
was there to be afraid of? "Allah will never torture me. I belong to Paradise!"
However, he wanted to meet Allah carrying the most magnificent and most wonderful memory, a
memory which joined him with his religion and his Prophet (PBUH). Therefore, he pointed to his coffer.
They opened it and got out an old, torn, threadbare gown. He ordered his kin to shroud him in that gown
saying, "I met the disbelievers at the Battle of Badr wearing it. I've saved it for this day."
Indeed, this threadbare gown was not just a gown. It was the banner waving over a long great life.
Our hero lived it honestly, bravely, and faithfully.
The body of the last Muhaajiruun was buried in Al- Madiinah, safely laid beside a group of great
Companions who preceded him to Allah. Their exhausted bodies had finally found a secure shelter in the
ground of Al-Baqii`.
Farewell, Sa'd. Farewell Sa'd, the hero of Al-Qaadissiyah, conquerer of Al-Madaa'in, extinguisher
forever of the worshipped fire of Persia!