The generous, Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubaadah

He is Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, the chief of
the Khazraj, and the carrier of the banner of the Ansaar. His mother
is 'Amrah bint Mas'ood. He was nicknamed Abu Thaabit and Abu Qays. He
embraced Islam very early, and attended the second 'Aqabah Pledge of
Allegiance along with seventy men and two women from among the Ansaar,
and was among the twelve leaders.
Although Sa'd, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, was the chief of his
people, his position did not protect him from the harm of the Quraysh.
After the second 'Aqabah Pledge of Allegiance was over, and the Ansaar
got ready for the journey of return to Al-Madeenah, the Quraysh learnt
about the pledge of allegiance they gave to the Messenger of Allaahand
their agreement with him on his migration to Al-Madeenah in order to
support him against the forces of the Quraysh. They were furious and
pursued the Muslims and succeeded to catch hold of Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah.
They tied his hands to his neck and brought him to Makkah, turned
round him, and beat him, troubling him with the most severe harm.
Commenting on that, Sa'd, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "By
Allaah, while I was in their hands, behold! Some men from the Quraysh
appeared to them, and among them there was a bright-faced man, meaning
Suhayl ibn 'Amr. I said )to myself(: 'If there is good in anyone of
them, it then would not go beyond this man.' But when he came close to
me, he raised his hand and punched me hard, as a result of which I
said to myself: 'No, by Allaah, they have no good after that.' By
Allaah, I was in their hands, and they were dragging me, behold! A man
from among them called me: 'Woe to you! Do you not have any right of
protection between you and anyone of the Quraysh?' I said: 'Yes, I
used to give the right of protection to the merchandise of Jubayr ibn
Mut'im and protect them from any injustice to be committed against
them in my territory; and the same is true of Al-Haarith ibn Harb ibn
Umayyah.' The man said: 'Then, call the names of both men, and mention
the right of protection between you and them.' I did accordingly, and
the man went to them and found them in the Ka'bah, and told them that
a man from the Khazraj was being beaten in Al-Abtah, and he called
their names, and mentioned that there was a right of protection
between him and them. They asked him about my name, and they were told
that it was Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah. They said: 'He has told the truth, by
Allaah.' They then came and saved me from their hands." ]Ibn Sa'd[
When the Messenger of Allaahand his Companions emigrated to
Al-Madeenah, Sa'd received them with great warmth, and put his
property at their service. He was known for his munificence and
generosity, and his fame for this was far-reaching. He always asked
Allaah for more sustenance and good, saying: "O Allaah! Grant me
glory. O Allaah! There is no glory without a deed, and there is no
deed without property. O Allaah! Little is unfit for me, nor am I fit
for it." ]Al-Haakim[
A man from among the Ansaar might host one, two or three )maximum(,
whereas he used to host as many as eighty. His caller used to ascend
the roof of the house and call at the top of his voice: "Whoever likes
fat and meat, let him come here." The Messenger of Allaahsupplicated
Allaah for him saying:"O Allaah! Confer Your blessings and mercy upon
the family of Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah."]Ahmad[
Sa'd, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, was a good archer, and
extraordinarily brave. About him Ibn 'Abbaas, May Allaah Be Pleased
with him, said:"In all the battlefields, the Messenger of Allaahhad
two banners: the banner of the Muhaajiroon with 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib,
and the banner of the Ansaar with Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah."]'Abdul-Razzaaq
and Ahmad[
The situation of Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, on
the Day of Badr indicated his courage. The Messenger of Allaahsought
the counsel of the Ansaar, thereupon Sa'd, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, stood and encouraged fighting. He said:"O Messenger of Allaah! If
you order us to set out to Bark Al-Ghimaad, we would surely do."]Ahmad
and Muslim[
In the Battle of Khandaq, the disbelieving tribes gathered against
Islam, and besieged Al-Madeenah. The tribe of Ghatfaan offered to
withdraw from the army of the Confederates in return for receiving
one-third the fruits of Al-Madeenah. The Messenger of Allaahconsulted
both Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah and Sa'd ibn Mu'aath, May Allaah Be Pleased
with them. Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah said:"'O Messenger of Allaah! Is it
something you like, so that we would do for your sake, or Allaah Has
Commanded you to do, so that we should do accordingly, or you do it
only for us?' The Messenger of Allaahsaid, 'It is something I do for
your sake just when I saw the Arabs having gathered collectively
against you.' He said, 'By Allaah, O Messenger of Allaah, they have
never coveted that from us during the pre-Islamic days. Then, how
could it take place now, given that Allaah Guided us through you,
Exalted and Honored us with you? By Allaah, they deserve nothing but
the sword until Allaah Judges between us.' On that the Messenger of
Allaahsaid, 'Then, let it be as you like.'"]Ibn Hishaam[
After the death of the Messenger of Allaahthe Ansaar gathered in the
shed of Bani Saa'idah, and supported Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah, calling that
the successive authority of the Messenger of Allaahbe from among the
Ansaar. But 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab and Abu 'Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarraah, May
Allaah Be Pleased with them, saw that Abu Bakr, May Allaah Be Pleased
with him, had more right of the successive authority after the
Messenger of Allaahand the Muslims concurred, and Sa'd gave Abu Bakr
the pledge of allegiance for the caliphate.
He died during the caliphate of 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, May Allaah Be
Pleased with him.