Sa'd b. 'Ubada: Difference between revisions

After the demise of the Prophet (s), few leaders from [[Ansar]] gathered in [[Event of Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Saqifa]] intending to elect Sa'd b. 'Ubadah as their [[caliph]], but after the arrival of [[Abu Bakr]], [['Umar]] and [[Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah]], the people were inclined towards Abu Bakr and paid [[allegiance]] to him. Sa'd never pledged allegiance to the [[first caliph|first]] or [[second caliph]]. He was killed during the reign of 'Umar b. al-Khattab and some believed him to be killed by the [[Jinn]]s.

Sa'd was present in most of the [[Battles of the Prophet (s)|battles]] alongside the Prophet (s) although there is a difference of opinion about his presence at the [[battle of Badr]]. He was one of the trusted companions of the Prophet (s) and his counsel was valued. The Prophet (s) abandoned the continued negotiation with the leaders of the [[Polytheism|polytheists]] in the [[battle of Ahzab]] after consulting Sa'd b. 'Ubadah and [[Sa'd b. Ma'adh]]. He watched their unrelenting protection of Islam and himself (s).

At the [[conquest of Mecca]], too, the flag was held by Sa'd b. 'Ubadah until he raised a cry for revenge and bloodshed. When this news reached the Prophet (s), he instructed Imam Ali (a) to reach to him and take the flag from him and to raise the slogan of forgiveness and kindness. Although another report states that [[Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada|Qays]], the son of Sa'd, was employed for the task.

After the [[demise of the Prophet (s)]], Sa'd b. 'Ubadah was nominated as one of the candidates to succeed the Prophet (s) in [[Event of Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Saqifa of Bani Sa'ida]]. But after the entry of [[Abu Bakr]], [['Umar]] and [[Abu 'Ubaydah b. al-Jarrah]], the Muslims were inclined towards Abu Bakr and taking into account Sa'd's prominent opposition there, they pledged [[allegiance]] to Abu Bakr for [[caliphate]]. However, some maintain that Sa'd himself never aspired for caliphate rather it was the people from the [[Khazraj]] tribe who wished for him to be caliph. Sa'd never paid allegiance to Abu Bakr and his tribe followed suit and didn't pay allegiance to him either. Contrastingly, some have recorded that Sa'd wished to be caliph but since he did not reach his ambition, he did not pledge allegiance to the caliph.

Sa'd did not pay allegiance to 'Umar during his caliphate, either. Even though the second caliph insisted on him pledging allegiance to him, it bore no fruit. It is reported that the strength and power of Sa'd's tribe prevented 'Umar's government from reaching him.

One day, Sa'd's son advised 'Umar, "Sa'd has sworn to never pledge allegiance to you and you too, cannot forcibly take allegiance from him unless you kill him! Know this that killing him will be equal to killing the tribe of Khazraj and killing the tribe of Khazraj will be like killing the tribe of [[Aws]] and killing the tribe of Aws will be like killing the core of [[Yemen]], and this shall not be possible for you so leave him alone."

Qays was one of the first people who did not pay allegiance to Abu Bakr in [[Event of Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Saqifa]] after the demise of the Prophet (s), and instead went to Imam Ali and was one of his trusted helpers.

The tiff between Sa'd and the government continued. It is narrated that 'Umar, during his regime told him to either pledge allegiance or to leave [[Medina]]. Hence, Sa'd left Medina and went towards [[Hawran]] in [[Damascus]]. There is disagreement regarding the manner of Sa'd's death amongst the Shi'a and Sunni schools of thought. The year of his death is stated to be [[11]]/632-633, [[14]]/635-636 or [[15]]/636-637, out of which [[15]]/636-637 seems more accurate.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/view/سعد_بن_عباده سعد بن عباده] in Farsi Wikishia.