Brave & Powerful Fighter and Guard of the Holy Prophet (sa)

Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) was a brave and skilled cavalier from among the Quraish. During battles, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) was one of the companions who were entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the Holy Prophet (sa).

(Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 2, p. 325, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001)

Abu Ishaq narrates that there were four powerful fighters among the companions of the Holy Prophet (sa): Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Zubair (ra) and Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra).

(Al-Isabah fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, p. 325, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001)

After the migration to Medina, the Muslims remained fearful of an attack by the disbelievers and owing to this apprehension, they found it difficult to sleep at night. The Holy Prophet (sa) would remain awake at night. In this regard, there is a narration by Hazrat Aisha (ra) in which she states:

“Upon arrival in Medina, on one night, the Holy Prophet (sa) had difficulty sleeping. He then prayed, ‘If only a suitable man from among my companions were to stand guard.’” Hazrat Aisha (ra) further narrates, “We were still in this state when we heard the clanking of arms. The Holy Prophet (sa) enquired who it was. The reply from the individual standing outside was, ‘It is I, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) enquired as to why he had come, to which he replied, ‘My heart was perturbed about you, therefore I came to stand guard.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for Sa‘d (ra) and then fell asleep.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 282-283) (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Faza‘il as-Sahabah, Bab Fadl Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas, Hadith 2410)