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The delegation returned to Sa'd, leader of the Muslims, to tell him that it was war. Sa'd's eyes were
hereby filled with tears. He had wished so much that the war would be delayed for some time. On that
day his illness became more severe, and he had to suffer its heavy burden. The abscesses spread all over
his body, to the extent that he could not sit, let alone ride his horse to take part in an extremely fierce and
violent battle.
If the war had just been waged before his illness or had it been delayed till he was cured and healthy
again, then he would have proved himself brave. But now. . . No, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had
taught them never to say "If" because "If' means weakness. A strong believer is neither helpless nor
weak. Thereupon The Lion's Claws stood up to preach to his soldiers. He began his speech citing the
following glorious verse: "And We have written in the Zaboor (given to David) after the Torahe (given
to Moses): "My righteous servants shall inherit the earth" (21: 105).
Having finished his speech Sa'd led his troops in the Dhuhr Prayer, then turned towards his soldiers
and proclaimed four times, "Allahu akbar (Allah is the Greatest)! Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! Allahu
akbar!"
The echo was to be heard all over the universe. Then he stretched out his arm like an unerring arrow
pointing to the enemy and shouted to his soldiers, "Let's start this battle accompanied by Allah's
blessings."
With pains hard to bear, he ascended to the balcony of his residence, which he used as a dwelling
and a headquarters.
On the balcony he sat on a pillow and leaned upon his chest. His door was left open, which meant
that by the least Persian attack against his residence he would be captured, alive or dead, but he was far
from being afraid or terrified.
His abscesses were bleeding and hurting him severely, but he had something else to think about.
Sitting on his balcony, he was shouting, calling, and commanding. First to those in one flank to step
forward towards the right, and then to those in another flank to fill out the empty spot on the left. . .
Mughiirah, look forward! Jurair follow them! Nu'maan, hit! Ash`ath attack and you also, Qa'qaa'.
Forward, forward, Prophet's Companions!
His determined and hopeful sound turned each individual soldier into an army of its own. The Persian
soldiers fell like flies and with them fell the worship of fire and paganism. After seeing the death of their
commander and their best soldiers, the defeated, scattered remnants rapidly escaped.
The Muslim army pursued them until they reached Nahawind then Al-Madaa'in. There they fought to
carry with them at the end the emperor's throne and crown as war booty.
At the Battle of Al-Madaa'in, Sa'd could stand the test and prove himself brave. The Battle of Al-
Madaa'in took place two years after the Battle of Al-Qaadissiyah, a period during which a lot of
continuous armed dashes took place between the Muslims and the Persians. Finally, the scattered
remnants of the Persian army gathered at Al-Madaa'in itself, ready for a decisive and final scene.
Sa'd realized that time was on his enemy's side; therefore, he decided to deprive them of this
advantage, but how could he do that? The Tigris River in its flood season stood in the middle between
him and Al-Madaa'in.
Thereby, an event took place by which Sa'd succeeded to prove that he indeed deserved `Abd Ar-
Rahman lbn `Awfs description of him as the Lion's Claws. Sa'd's faith and determination stood glittering
in the face of danger, mocking and making fun of the impossible with admirable bravery.