Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Sa’d bin Rabee’ (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a Sahaabi from the Ansaar of Madinah Munawwarah. He hailed from the Khazraj tribe and was among the senior people of his clan. He had participated in both pledges of Aqabah, prior to the hijrah, and was also among the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had fought in the Battle of Badr and became a shaheed (martyr) in the Battle of Uhud.
In the Battle of Uhud, he fought most valiantly against the enemy until he sustained many fatal wounds which led to his death.
In the narration of Ibnu Ishaaq (rahimahullah), it is reported that after the Battle of Uhud, there were many Sahaabah who had passed away and many who were wounded. At that time, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying, “Who will go and look for Sa’d bin Rabee’, and see whether he is alive or has passed away?”
Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka’b (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) immediately responded saying, “I will go and look, O Rasul of Allah!” Saying this, he went out in search of Hazrat Sa’d bin Rabee’ (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) until he found him lying among the martyrs, about to breath his last.
On seeing Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he noticed that he had sustained approximately seventy wounds, caused by swords, arrows and spears.
Hazrat Ubayy (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to him, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed me to search for you, to see whether you are alive or you are among the dead.” Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in a soft and weak voice, “I am now about to pass away.”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to Hazrat Ubayy (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Go to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and convey my salaam to him. Tell him that I was stabbed twelve times with spears (apart from the other wounds on his body), and in the process of fighting, I managed to killed all those who came in combat against me.”
Hazrat Sa’d bin Rabee’ (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also told Hazrat Ubayy (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to convey the following message on his behalf to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He said, “Also tell Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that Sa’d bin Rabee’ says, ‘May Allah Ta‘ala bestow you, on our behalf, with the best reward which He has ever bestowed to any Nabi on behalf of his ummah. I now am about to pass away, and I can perceive the fragrance of Jannah.”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) further said, “Tell your people (the Ansaar) that Sa’d bin Rabee’ conveys this message to them, ‘Fear Allah! Fear Allah regarding the pledge which you made to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on the night of Aqabah (that you will give him your full support and you will protect him with your lives and wealth against the enemies)! By Allah, you people will have no excuse by Allah Ta‘ala if the enemy reaches Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and he is killed while even a single person from among you is still alive (and able to assist and defend Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]).”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) spoke these words, and just a few moments later, he breathed his last and departed from this world.
Thereafter, when Hazrat Ubayy (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), conveyed the salaam of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to him and mentioned his final message, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made dua for him saying, “May Allah Ta‘ala shower his special mercy upon him! He remained faithful to Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul throughout his life, until even at the time when he was passing away!” (Rowdh-ul-Unuf 3/281, Usdhul Ghaabah 2/293-294, Sharhuz Zurqaani 2/446)
