Acceptance of Islam
All of these companions, i.e., the Ashrah Mubasharah were from among the Muhajireen [i.e., those who migrated from Mecca to Medina] and the Holy Prophet (sa) was pleased with them at the time of his demise. In relation to his acceptance of faith, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) relates:
“The day I accepted Islam, no one else accepted Islam on that day. I waited for seven days and the condition at the time was such that I made up one third of the total Muslims, i.e., there were only three of us.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib An-Nabi, Bab Manaqib Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas, Hadith 3727) (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Islam, Hadith 3858)
Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) states that he accepted Islam even before the obligatory prayers had been prescribed.
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 2, p. 453, Sa‘d bin Malik, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)
Narrating the account of his acceptance of Islam, Hazrat Sa‘d’s (ra) daughter relates that Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) stated:
“I saw in a dream that it was extremely dark and I could not see anything. Suddenly, I saw that the moon had risen and I began walking towards it. However, I noticed that Hazrat Zaid bin Haritha (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had started walking towards the moon before me. I asked them when they reached and they replied that they had just reached.”
Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) further states that by then, he already knew that the Holy Prophet (sa) was discreetly inviting people to Islam. Thus, he went to Shai‘b Ajyaad to meet the Holy Prophet (sa). Ajyaad is the name of a place situated next to the mountain of Safa in Mecca where the Holy Prophet (sa) used to graze sheep. The Holy Prophet (sa) had just finished his Asr prayer when Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) arrived and became a Muslim after doing the Bai‘at.
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 2, p. 455, Sa‘d bin Malik, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, pp. 63-64) (Farhang Sirat, p. 30, Zawwar Academy Publications, Karachi, 2003)
The daughter of Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra), Aisha bint Sa‘d narrates, “I heard my father say that when he accepted Islam; he was 17 years old.” According to other narrations, it is mentioned that when he accepted Islam he was 19 years old.
(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 103, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)
From among the pioneer Muslims, there were five individuals who accepted Islam owing to the preaching of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and later went on to become some of the most distinguished companions of a lofty status. The third person [out of these five] was Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra). This has been taken from Sirat Khataman-Nabiyyin where it is stated that he was a youth when he accepted Islam, i.e., he was 19 years old at the time.
Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) belonged to the Banu Zuhrah tribe and was a very brave and courageous individual. During the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar (ra) he conquered Iraq and passed away during the reign of Amir Muawiyyah (ra).
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 122-123)
Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) has recorded many narrations from the Holy Prophet (sa).
(Al-Isabah fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, p. 324, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001)
Mus‘ab, Hazrat Sa‘d’s (ra) son, states that his father said to him, “My mother (i.e., Hazrat Sa‘d’s (ra) mother) had made an oath that she would never speak to him unless he abandons his faith,” i.e., until he forsakes Islam. Accordingly, she stopped eating and drinking. Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) further stated, “My mother said to me, ‘You say that Allah the Almighty instructs you to show kindness to your parents. I am your mother and therefore I instruct you to leave this faith and listen to what I have to say.’” The narrator states that she remained in this state [without food and drink] for three days and due to extreme weakness, she was in a state of semi consciousness. Her son, Amarah, went to bring water and gave it to her. When she regained consciousness, she began to curse Hazrat Sa‘d (ra). On this occasion Allah the Almighty revealed the following verse:
وَوَصَّیْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَیْہِ حُسْنًا
‘And We have enjoined on man, kindness to his parents.’ [29:9]
The verse is from Surah al-Ankabut. Further, in Surah Luqman, it is stated:
وَإِنْ جَاہَدَاکَ عَلٰى أَنْ تُشْرِکَ بِیْ
“And if they contend with thee to make thee set up equals with Me… obey them not.” [31:16]
It is also mentioned:
وَصَاحِبْہُمَا فِی الدُّنْیَا مَعْرُوفًا
“But be a kind companion to them in all worldly affairs.” [31:16]
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Faza‘il as-Sahabah, Bab Fadl Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas, Hadith 1748)
If the question arises of associating partners with God Almighty, then one should not obey them. This matter is then discussed here in detail, but as far as worldly relations is concerned, one must show them compassion.
وَصَاحِبْہُمَا فِی الدُّنْیَا مَعْرُوفًا
“But be a kind companion to them in all worldly affairs.” [31:16]
The first narration was from [Sahih] Muslim. From another source, it is mentioned in a book of history that Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) stated, “I loved my mother dearly, but when I accepted Islam, she said, ‘What sort of religion have you accepted. Either you forsake this faith or I will stop eating and drinking until death overtakes me.’”
Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) states that he said to his mother, “My dear mother! Please do not do this, because I will never forsake my religion.” Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) further narrates, “For one day and one night, my mother did not eat or drink anything and as a result her health deteriorated. At this point, I said to her, ‘By Allah! If you had a thousand lives and lost each of them, one after the other, I would still not abandon my faith.’” When his mother saw this reaction, she began to eat and drink. It was on this occasion that God Almighty revealed the following verse:
وَإِنْ جَاہَدَاکَ عَلٰى أَنْ تُشْرِکَ بِیْ مَا لَیْسَ لَکَ بِہٖ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْہُمَا وَصَاحِبْہُمَا فِی الدُّنْیَا مَعْرُوْفًا
“And if they contend with thee to make thee set up equals with Me concerning which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not, but be a kind companion to them in all worldly affairs.” [31:16]
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 2, p. 455, Sa‘d bin Malik, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)