Sa'd ibn Mu'adh

Sa'd ibn Mu'adh was the chief of the Aws tribe, one of the two major Arab tribes of Madinah. He was converted to Islam by Mus'ab ibn Umayr. When he heard Mus'ab's recitation, he accepted Islam immediately and then went to his people and said: 'O Banu Abd al-Ashhal, what do you know of me among you?' They said: 'You are our chief, the best in judgement, the most auspicious in leadership.' He said: 'I will not speak to any man or woman among you until you believe in Allah and His Messenger.' By evening, every man and woman in his clan had accepted Islam. At the Battle of Badr, he built a shelter for the Prophet and stood guard over him. At the Battle of the Trench, he was struck in the arm by an arrow that severed his median vein. He prayed: 'O Allah, if there remains any fight with the Quraysh, keep me alive for it. And if You have ended the war between us, let this wound flow until I die. But do not let me die until You have cooled my eyes regarding Banu Qurayzah.' After the siege, when Banu Qurayzah surrendered, both sides agreed to accept Sa'd's judgement. His ruling was based on the law of the Torah regarding treachery. After the judgement was carried out, his wound reopened and he passed away. The Prophet said: 'The Throne of the Most Merciful shook at the death of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh.' Seventy thousand angels attended his funeral. When the Companions remarked that his bier felt light despite his large build, the Prophet said: 'The angels were carrying him.'