Flag Bearer During Battles & Gifts for the Holy Prophet (sa)
A narration of al-Mustadrak has recorded that during the Battle of Badr, the flag of the Ansar was carried by Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah.
(al-Mustadrak Ala Al Sahihain, Vol. 3, p. 574, Kitab Marifatu al-Sahaba, Bab Dhikri Manaqib Sa‘d bin Ubadah, Hadith 5096, Dar-ul-Kutub Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)
When departing for the Battle of Badr, Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah gifted a sword called adhab to the Holy Prophet (sa), which the Holy Prophet (sa) then used during this battle.
(Subul al-Hudaa Wa al-Rashaad, Vol. 4, p. 24, Ghazwah Badr al-Kubraa, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)
Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah also presented the Holy Prophet (sa) with a donkey as a gift.
(Subul al-Hudaa Wa al-Rashaad, Vol. 7, p. 406, Fi Bighhalihi wa Hameerihi, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)
The Holy Prophet (sa) had seven chain armours, one of which was named “Zaatul-Fudhool” owing to its length. Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah gave this chain armour to the Holy Prophet (sa) when he had departed for the Battle of Badr. This chain armour was made of iron and it was the same chain armour that the Holy Prophet (sa) gave to Abu Shaham, a Jew, as assurance, in exchange for barley weighing 30 saa‘ [a unit of measure equal to approximately 2.5 kilograms]. This chain armour was kept as assurance with him for one year.
(Subul al-Hudaa Wa al-Rashaad, Vol. 7, p. 368, Fi Duru’ihi wa Mighfarihi wa Baidatihi, Darul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)
Hazrat ibn Abbas (ra) narrates, “During battles, the flag of the Holy Prophet (sa) would be carried by Hazrat Ali (ra) and the flag of the Ansar would be carried by Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah. When the battles would intensify, the Holy Prophet (sa) would be near the flag of the Ansar.”
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 1, p. 917, Musnad Abdullah bin Abbas, Hadith 3486, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998)
In other words, the enemy would concentrate their efforts towards the flag of the Ansar because the Holy Prophet (sa) would position himself near their flag. Hazrat Usama bin Zaid (ra) narrates that on one occasion, the Holy Prophet (sa) was riding a donkey and underneath him was a blanket that was made in Fadak. The Holy Prophet (sa) placed Hazrat Usama bin Zaid (ra) behind him and they made their way to enquire about Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah, who was ill at the time. During those days, Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah was in the compound of Banu Harith bin Khazraj. The incident being narrated took place prior to the Battle of Badr. Hazrat Usama bin Zaid (ra) relates that whilst travelling they went past a gathering in which Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool was also sat – at the time he had not become a Muslim. This is the very incident in which Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool was discourteous towards the Holy Prophet (sa).