Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, of the Banu Zuhra — the clan of the Prophet's ﷺ mother, who called him 'my uncle' — was one of the very first Muslims and one of the ten promised Paradise. The first man to shoot an arrow for the cause of God, he later won the Battle of Qadisiyya, which opened Persia. Verse 29:8 was revealed about him. He lived to an old age, one of the last survivors of the ten.

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas belonged to the Banu Zuhra — the clan of the Prophet's ﷺ mother. For this reason, on seeing Sa'd approach, the Prophet ﷺ would say: 'Here is my uncle! Let each of you show me his.' He embraced Islam very young, among the very first, and was the first man to shoot an arrow for the cause of God.

His connection to the Quran was born of a trial. His mother, to turn him from his faith, swore to eat and drink nothing until he renounced it; she nearly died. Sa'd loved her dearly, but he did not yield. Then the verse descended: 'We have enjoined man to be good to his parents. But if they pressure you to associate with Me… do not obey them' (29:8). Sa'd said: 'Four verses were revealed about me.'

Later, under the caliphate of Umar, he commanded the Muslim army at Qadisiyya — the great victory that opened Persia. Umar also counted him among the six of the shura. He lived to an old age and passed away at his estate near Medina, one of the last survivors of the ten.

Sa'd is not named in the Quran; but verse 29:8 was revealed about him, during the trial with his mother (Muslim and Tirmidhi, from Mus'ab ibn Sa'd — Sa'd said: 'four verses were revealed about me'). He is one of the ten promised Paradise (Tirmidhi no. 3747). 'First to shoot an arrow for God' (Bukhari, via Ibn Kathir). His conquests — including Qadisiyya — belong to historical narrative.

Sa'd teaches faithfulness to God even in the most tender love: he loved his mother without ever obeying her towards evil. The Quran fixed forever this balance — kindness towards parents, but no obedience against God — in the verse revealed about him.

Nous avons ordonné à l’homme de bien traiter ses père et mère. Mais s’ils te poussent à M’associer des divinités dont tu n’as aucune connaissance, ne leur obéis pas. C’est à Moi que vous ferez tous retour. Je vous informerai alors de ce que vous faisiez.

29:8