Introduction
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas accepted Islam in Makkah as a teenager, among the first handful of believers, and stood firm even when his own mother tried to force him back with a hunger strike. A verse of the Quran was revealed about that episode, teaching that parents are to be treated kindly even when they differ in faith, but never obeyed in disobedience to Allah.
He was one of the great warriors of the first generation: the Prophet told him to shoot at Uhud and promised him his own parents as ransom, words not said to anyone else. Later, under Umar, he commanded the Muslim army at al-Qadisiyyah and founded the garrison city of Kufa.
In later years he withdrew from the political conflicts of the community, living quietly among his flocks, and was among the last of the ten promised Paradise to pass away.
The story
c. 610-617 CE
Accepts Islam as a young man; he later said he was one of the first three Muslims on the day he entered Islam.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3858Sahih Arabic text
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ يَقُولُ مَا أَسْلَمَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي أَسْلَمْتُ فِيهِ، وَلَقَدْ مَكَثْتُ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَإِنِّي لَثُلُثُ الإِسْلاَمِ
“for seven days I was one of the three persons who were Muslims”
2 AH / 624 CE
Takes part in Badr.
3 AH / 625 CE
Shoots at the enemy at Uhud at the Prophet's command.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 2905Sahih Arabic text
يَقُولُ مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُفَدِّي رَجُلاً بَعْدَ سَعْدٍ، سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " ارْمِ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي".
“Throw (the arrows)! Let my parents sacrifice their lives for you”
10 AH / 632 CE
Falls gravely ill during the Farewell Pilgrimage and asks the Prophet about giving away his wealth.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 5668Sahih Arabic text
… تَرَى وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ لِي أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ" لاَ". قُلْتُ بِالشَّطْرِ قَالَ" لاَ". قُلْتُ الثُّلُثُ قَالَ" الثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ، أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي …
“One third is too much, for to leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them poor”
c. 15 AH / 636 CE
Commands the Muslim army at al-Qadisiyyah against the Sasanian Empire.
c. 17 AH / 638 CE
Founds Kufa as a garrison city.
c. 55 AH / 674 CE
Dies near Madinah and is buried in al-Baqi'.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Praying as the Prophet prayed
When people of Kufa complained that he did not pray properly, Sa'd answered that he led them exactly as the Prophet had, prolonging the first two rak'ahs of Isha and shortening the last two. Umar confirmed this is what he expected of him.
Try this today
Learn the Prophet's prayer and keep to it, not more and not less.
Sit with this
Is your prayer modelled on the Prophet's, not more and not less?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 755Sahih … أَنَّكَ لاَ تُحْسِنُ تُصَلِّي قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ أَمَّا أَنَا وَاللَّهِ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي بِهِمْ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَخْرِمُ عَنْهَا، أُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ فَأَرْكُدُ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ وَأُخِفُّ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ. قَالَ ذَاكَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ. فَأَرْسَلَ مَعَهُ رَجُلاً أَوْ رِجَالاً إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ، فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ أَهْلَ …
“I used to pray with them a prayer similar to that of Allah's Apostle”
Making du'a with confidence
The Prophet prayed that Allah answer Sa'd whenever he supplicated, a prayer from the Prophet that gave Sa'd special standing as one to whom people turned for du'a.
Try this today
Ask Allah often and specifically; keep your earnings and conduct clean.
Sit with this
Do you ask Allah often and specifically, with clean earnings behind your du'a?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3751Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اسْتَجِبْ لِسَعْدٍ إِذَا دَعَاكَ". وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ قَيْسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اسْتَجِبْ لِسَعْدٍ إِذَا دَعَاكَ". وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ.
“O Allah, respond to Sa'd when he supplicates to You”
Kindness to his mother, firmness in faith
When his mother refused food until he left Islam, Sa'd would not give up his faith. The Quranic verses about being good to parents, while not obeying them in disbelief, were revealed in connection with him.
Try this today
Be kind to parents in everything permissible, and steady in your religion.
Sit with this
Can you be gentle with your parents while firm in your faith?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1748Sahih … وَلاَ تَشْرَبَ. قَالَتْ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ وَصَّاكَ بِوَالِدَيْكَ وَأَنَا أُمُّكَ وَأَنَا آمُرُكَ بِهَذَا. قَالَ مَكَثَتْ ثَلاَثًا حَتَّى غُشِيَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الْجَهْدِ فَقَامَ ابْنٌ لَهَا يُقَالُ لَهُ عُمَارَةُ فَسَقَاهَا فَجَعَلَتْ تَدْعُو عَلَى سَعْدٍ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي الْقُرْآنِ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ{ وَوَصَّيْنَا الإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا}{ وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ …
“Allah has commanded you to treat well your parents and I am your mother”
Giving thoughtfully, with the family in mind
Asked by the ill Sa'd whether he could give away most of his wealth, the Prophet said one-third was already a lot and that leaving heirs well off is better than leaving them in need. He also told Sa'd every expense for Allah's pleasure is rewarded, even a morsel placed in a wife's mouth.
Try this today
Give generously but sustainably, and count providing for family as charity.
Sit with this
Is your giving generous and sustainable, with your family in mind?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5668Sahih … تَرَى وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ لِي أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ" لاَ". قُلْتُ بِالشَّطْرِ قَالَ" لاَ". قُلْتُ الثُّلُثُ قَالَ" الثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ، أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي …
“Nothing you spend seeking Allah's pleasure but you shall get a reward for it”
Sahih al-Bukhari 56Sahih أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ "إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فَمِ امْرَأَتِكَ
“You will be rewarded for whatever you spend for Allah's sake”
A hidden, content life
During the political strife among Muslims, Sa'd withdrew to his camels and flocks. When his son urged him to seek power, he struck his chest and quoted the Prophet that Allah loves the God-fearing, self-sufficient and hidden servant.
Try this today
Value being unnoticed; seek contentment over status.
Sit with this
Could you choose contentment over status this week?
Source
Sahih Muslim 2965Sahih … وَقَّاصٍ فِي إِبِلِهِ فَجَاءَهُ ابْنُهُ عُمَرُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ سَعْدٌ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذَا الرَّاكِبِ فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنَزَلْتَ فِي إِبِلِكَ وَغَنَمِكَ وَتَرَكْتَ النَّاسَ يَتَنَازَعُونَ الْمُلْكَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَضَرَبَ سَعْدٌ فِي صَدْرِهِ فَقَالَ اسْكُتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ التَّقِيَّ الْغَنِيَّ …
“Allah loves the servant who is God-conscious and is free from want and is hidden”
Courage in defence of the community
At Uhud, with the Prophet under attack, Sa'd shot arrows at the Prophet's command; the Prophet said 'may my father and mother be ransomed for you', and Ali reported he never heard the Prophet say this to anyone after Sa'd.
Try this today
Stand in your place when the community needs you.
Sit with this
Where does your community need you to stand in your place?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 2905Sahih يَقُولُ مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُفَدِّي رَجُلاً بَعْدَ سَعْدٍ، سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " ارْمِ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي".
“Let my parents sacrifice their lives for you”
Sahih Muslim 2412Sahih … النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَمَعَ لَهُ أَبَوَيْهِ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ. قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَدْ أَحْرَقَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ارْمِ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي". قَالَ فَنَزَعْتُ لَهُ بِسَهْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ نَصْلٌ فَأَصَبْتُ جَنْبَهُ فَسَقَطَ فَانْكَشَفَتْ عَوْرَتُهُ فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى نَظَرْتُ إِلَى …
“shoot an arrow”
Virtues
The Prophet ransomed his parents for Sa'd at Uhud.
“Let my parents sacrifice their lives for you”
Arabic text
يَقُولُ مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُفَدِّي رَجُلاً بَعْدَ سَعْدٍ، سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " ارْمِ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي".
Sahih al-Bukhari 2905Sahih
The Prophet prayed that Sa'd's supplications be answered.
“O Allah, respond to Sa'd when he supplicates to You”
Arabic text
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اسْتَجِبْ لِسَعْدٍ إِذَا دَعَاكَ". وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ قَيْسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اسْتَجِبْ لِسَعْدٍ إِذَا دَعَاكَ". وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3751Sahih
Sa'd was among the companions on Mount Hira when the Prophet declared only a prophet, a siddiq and martyrs were upon it.
“there is none upon you but a Prophet, a Siddiq, a Shahid”
Arabic text
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عَلَى جَبَلِ حِرَاءٍ فَتَحَرَّكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْكُنْ حِرَاءُ فَمَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدٌ". وَعَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ وَعَلِيٌّ وَطَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَسَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ رضى الله عنهم.
Sahih Muslim 2417Sahih
Sayings and moments
Sa'd said that no one had entered Islam before the day he did, and that for seven days he was a third of the Muslims.
“I remained for seven days as one third of the then extant Muslims”
Arabic text
… بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ هَاشِمِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، يَقُولُ مَا أَسْلَمَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي أَسْلَمْتُ فِيهِ، وَلَقَدْ مَكَثْتُ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَإِنِّي لَثُلُثُ الإِسْلاَمِ. تَابَعَهُ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ حَدَّثَنَا …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3727Sahih
Words on this page
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Ishaالعشاء
- The night prayer, the last of the five daily prayers, prayed after twilight has gone.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
Related companions
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
- عثمان بن عفانUthman ibn AffanUthman ibn Affan, third caliph and Dhu al-Nurayn: his modesty, open-handed giving, wudu, Quran and night-pray…
Sources and review
- Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas - Wikipedia (dates and campaigns) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts via the open Hadith API mirroring sunnah.com numbering (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.