A Glimpse into the Life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) – The Undying Love of Hazrat Sa’d bin Rabi’ (ra) for the Holy Prophet (sa)

© Shutterstock

Another true devotee was an Ansari [native to Madinah] chief called Sa’d bin Rabi’ (ra). In the battlefield of Uhud, the bodies of seventy martyrs were piled on top of each other. One by one, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) was remembering his loyal devotees. Suddenly, he said, ‘Is there anyone who can go and find out what has happened to Ansari chief Sa’d bin Rabi’ (ra)? I have seen him encircled in the shower of arrows. ‘Ubayy bin Ka’b (ra), Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra)and Zaid bin Harithah (ra) told the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) that they were ready to go and look for him. The Holy Prophet (sa) sent Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) and said, ‘If you meet Sa’d bin Rabi’(sa), give him my salam [greeting of peace] and tell him that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) enquires about your well-being.’ 

Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) searched for his body among the scattered dead bodies in the battlefield and called aloud his name, but received no response. Then he called aloud, ‘O Sa’d bin Rabi’, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) has sent me to enquire about you.’ Suddenly, there was a movement in the dead bodies, and a feeble sound was heard. When he went near, he found Sa’d, gravely wounded. He told Sa’d that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) had sent him salam and to find out how he was. Sa’d bin Rabi’ said, ‘I am near death and have received twelve fatal sword wounds from which I would not survive. Convey my salam to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and respectfully say to him on my behalf, “May God give you the best reward of all the rewards given to the previous prophets by their followers.” Convey my salam to my people as well, and give them my message that they should always remember the covenant they made with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) in the valley of Uqbah. “We have fulfilled this covenant till our last breath, and now it is up to you to discharge the obligations of this trust. As long as there exists among you even one blinking eye and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) suffers a loss, none of your excuses would be accepted by God.”’

Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) returned and narrated the whole incident to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) heart must have been comforted by this narration.

Muhammad (sa) – The Perfect Man (Qadian, India: Nazarat Isha’at, 2015) 302-303.