Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

سعد بن عبادة

رضي الله عنه

Sa'd ibn Ubadah

Sa'd ibn Ubadah ibn Dulaym al-Ansari al-Khazraji

Chief of the Khazraj and an early Ansari leader, famed for generosity, for charity in his mother's name, and for his loyalty to the Prophet at Badr.

  • Chief of the Khazraj
  • Sayyid of the Ansar
A day in his footsteps
  • KunyaAbu Thabit
  • Family and tribeKhazraj (Banu Sa'idah), Ansar
  • BornBefore the Hijrah (exact year unknown)
  • Diedc. 15 AH / c. 636 CE (reports differ)
  • Resting placeHawran, Syria (according to most reports)
  • Counted amongAnsar

Introduction

Sa'd ibn Ubadah was the leader of the Banu Sa'idah branch of the Khazraj and later respected as a chief of the Ansar. He accepted Islam early and was one of those who pledged at al-Aqabah. His household was known for its hospitality, and the Prophet visited him in his home and during his illness.

At the council before Badr, when Abu Bakr and Umar had spoken, Sa'd stood and told the Prophet that if he ordered them to plunge their horses into the sea, they would do it. He is also remembered for the charity he gave on behalf of his mother after she died while he was away: a garden given to benefit her.

After the Prophet's death, the Ansar gathered at the courtyard of Banu Sa'idah, and Sa'd was put forward for leadership. The community ultimately gave allegiance to Abu Bakr. Sa'd did not live long after that and died in Syria around 15 AH.

The story

  1. Madinah, before and after the Hijrah

    Leader of the Banu Sa'idah of Khazraj; one of the early Muslims of the Ansar.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3807Sahih
    Arabic text

    … رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ بَنُو النَّجَّارِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْخَزْرَجِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو سَاعِدَةَ وَفِي كُلِّ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ خَيْرٌ". فَقَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ ـ وَكَانَ ذَا قِدَمٍ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ ـ أَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ فَضَّلَ عَلَيْنَا. فَقِيلَ لَهُ قَدْ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى نَاسٍ …

    “Sa`d bin Ubada who was one of those who embraced Islam early”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  2. 2 AH / 624 CE

    At the council before Badr, offered full support to the Prophet.

    Read the wording
    Sahih Muslim 1779Sahih
    Arabic text

    … أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَضْرِبَ أَكْبَادَهَا إِلَى بَرْكِ الْغِمَادِ لَفَعَلْنَا - قَالَ - فَنَدَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ فَانْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا بَدْرًا وَوَرَدَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ رَوَايَا قُرَيْشٍ وَفِيهِمْ غُلاَمٌ أَسْوَدُ لِبَنِي الْحَجَّاجِ فَأَخَذُوهُ فَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُونَهُ عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَصْحَابِهِ. فَيَقُولُ مَا …

    “if you order us to plunge our horses into the sea, we would do so”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  3. Madinah period

    His mother died while he was away; he asked about charity and gave a garden for her sake.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 2756Sahih
    Arabic text

    أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ تُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ وَهْوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي تُوُفِّيَتْ وَأَنَا غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، أَيَنْفَعُهَا شَىْءٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِهِ عَنْهَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ". قَالَ فَإِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنَّ حَائِطِي الْمِخْرَافَ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهَا.

    “I make you a witness that I gave my garden called Al Makhraf in charity on her behalf”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  4. 11 AH / 632 CE

    The Ansar met in the hall of Banu Sa'idah after the Prophet's death; Sa'd was proposed as leader but allegiance went to Abu Bakr.

  5. c. 15 AH

    Died in Syria.

A day in their footsteps

5 small, repeatable practices from Sa'd ibn Ubadah's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Charity on behalf of a deceased parent

    When Sa'd learned his mother had died in his absence, he asked the Prophet if charity would benefit her. The Prophet said yes, and Sa'd gave his garden, al-Makhraf.

    Try this today

    Give sadaqah on behalf of your parents who have passed away, and make it substantial.

    Sit with this

    What lasting charity could you give on behalf of a parent?

    Sources

    Sahih al-Bukhari 2756Sahih

    أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ تُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ وَهْوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي تُوُفِّيَتْ وَأَنَا غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، أَيَنْفَعُهَا شَىْءٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِهِ عَنْهَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ". قَالَ فَإِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنَّ حَائِطِي الْمِخْرَافَ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهَا.

    “I make you a witness that I gave my garden called Al Makhraf in charity on her behalf”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

    Sunan an-Nasa'i 3650Hasan Sahih

    … وَحَضَرَتْ أُمَّهُ الْوَفَاةُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقِيلَ لَهَا أَوْصِي. فَقَالَتْ فِيمَ أُوصِي الْمَالُ مَالُ سَعْدٍ. فَتُوُفِّيَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْدَمَ سَعْدٌ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ سَعْدٌ ذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ يَنْفَعُهَا أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ". فَقَالَ سَعْدٌ حَائِطُ كَذَا وَكَذَا صَدَقَةٌ عَنْهَا لِحَائِطٍ …

    “Sa'd said: 'Such and such a garden is given in charity on her behalf'”

    Grade: Hasan Sahih (al-Albani)

  2. Fulfilling a parent's unfulfilled vow

    When his mother died with a vow unfulfilled, Sa'd asked the Prophet what to do. The Prophet told him to fulfil it on her behalf.

    Try this today

    Settle your parents' outstanding promises and obligations.

    Sit with this

    Is there a promise a parent left unfulfilled that you could keep for them?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 2761Sahih

    أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ اسْتَفْتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا نَذْرٌ. فَقَالَ " اقْضِهِ عَنْهَا".

    “My mother died and she had an unfulfilled vow”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. Choosing water as lasting charity

    He asked which charity is best for his mother, and the Prophet said water. Sa'd dug a well and dedicated it to her.

    Try this today

    Support a well or water project as ongoing charity for your loved ones.

    Sit with this

    Could you fund water for someone in the name of a loved one?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 1681Hasan

    أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمَّ سَعْدٍ مَاتَتْ فَأَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " الْمَاءُ". قَالَ فَحَفَرَ بِئْرًا وَقَالَ هَذِهِ لأُمِّ سَعْدٍ.

    “what form of sadaqah is best? He replied: Water (is best)”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  4. Absolute loyalty to the Prophet's call

    Before Badr, when others had spoken, Sa'd stood and told the Prophet that the Ansar would follow his command even if it meant plunging their horses into the sea.

    Try this today

    Make your loyalty to the right cause clear in words and in actions.

    Sit with this

    Is your loyalty to the right cause clear in what you do as well as what you say?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 1779Sahih

    … أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَضْرِبَ أَكْبَادَهَا إِلَى بَرْكِ الْغِمَادِ لَفَعَلْنَا - قَالَ - فَنَدَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ فَانْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا بَدْرًا وَوَرَدَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ رَوَايَا قُرَيْشٍ وَفِيهِمْ غُلاَمٌ أَسْوَدُ لِبَنِي الْحَجَّاجِ فَأَخَذُوهُ فَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُونَهُ عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَصْحَابِهِ. فَيَقُولُ مَا …

    “if you order us to plunge our horses into the sea, we would do so”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  5. Asking for a ruling instead of acting on feeling

    Sa'd's strong sense of honour led him to ask the Prophet directly about a hard case. He was told not to take the law into his own hands. The Prophet told the people to listen to what their chief said, yet still held him to the Sharia.

    Try this today

    Bring strong feelings to a scholar and accept the answer.

    Sit with this

    When feelings run high, do you seek a ruling before you act?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 1498Sahih

    أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ، قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يَجِدُ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" لاَ". قَالَ سَعْدٌ بَلَى وَالَّذِي أَكْرَمَكَ بِالْحَقِّ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" اسْمَعُوا إِلَى مَا يَقُولُ سَيِّدُكُمْ".

    “Listen to what your chief says”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

Virtues

  • The Prophet visited him when he was ill, along with Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and Ibn Mas'ud.

    “Sa`d bin 'Ubada became sick and the Prophet along with `Abdur Rahman bin `Auf, Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas and `Abdullah bin Mas`ud visited him”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ اشْتَكَى سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ شَكْوَى لَهُ فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُهُ مَعَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَسَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَوَجَدَهُ فِي غَاشِيَةِ أَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ" قَدْ قَضَى". قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَبَكَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَوْمُ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1304Sahih

  • The Prophet said there is goodness in all the houses of the Ansar, including the Banu Sa'idah.

    “there is goodness in all the houses of the Ansar”

    Arabic text

    … رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ بَنُو النَّجَّارِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْخَزْرَجِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو سَاعِدَةَ وَفِي كُلِّ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ خَيْرٌ". فَقَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ ـ وَكَانَ ذَا قِدَمٍ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ ـ أَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ فَضَّلَ عَلَيْنَا. فَقِيلَ لَهُ قَدْ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى نَاسٍ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3807Sahih

  • The Prophet said Allah is more jealous than Sa'd, and he was not displeased at his protective jealousy of his honour.

    “Are you surprised at Sa'd's jealousy of his honour?”

    Arabic text

    … عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرَةِ سَعْدٍ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي مِنْ أَجْلِ غَيْرَةِ اللَّهِ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلاَ شَخْصَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ شَخْصَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْعُذْرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَلاَ شَخْصَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ …

    Sahih Muslim 1499Sahih

Sayings and moments

  • Sa'd told the Prophet at Badr that if he ordered them to plunge their horses into the sea, they would do so.

    “if you order us to plunge our horses into the sea, we would do so”

    Arabic text

    … أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَضْرِبَ أَكْبَادَهَا إِلَى بَرْكِ الْغِمَادِ لَفَعَلْنَا - قَالَ - فَنَدَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ فَانْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا بَدْرًا وَوَرَدَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ رَوَايَا قُرَيْشٍ وَفِيهِمْ غُلاَمٌ أَسْوَدُ لِبَنِي الْحَجَّاجِ فَأَخَذُوهُ فَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُونَهُ عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَصْحَابِهِ. فَيَقُولُ مَا …

    Sahih Muslim 1779Sahih

Words on this page

Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
Aqabahالعقبة
A pass near Mina where people of Madinah pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ before the Hijrah, in two pledges a year apart.
Badrبدر
The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
Sadaqahصدقة
Voluntary charity, of any size, given for the sake of Allah.

The full glossary

Sources and review

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.

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