Saad ibn Abi Waqqas: The Conqueror of Ctesiphon

Saad ibn Abi Waqqas is mainly renowned as the commander-in-chief of the Muslim
army that Umar dispatched to confront the Persians at Qadisiyyah. The Sassanian
power had dominated the region for centuries and the Second Caliph of Islam wanted
nothing less than an end to it.

The Persians were numerous and armed to the teeth, and facing them in the field
was a daunting task. A powerful force had to be mustered. Umar sent dispatches to
Muslim governors throughout the state to mobilize all able-bodied persons who had
weapons or mounts. Those who had other talents or skills to place at the service
of the army were also called upon.

Thus it was, that bands of the Mujahideen converged upon Medina from every corner
of the Muslim domain. When they had all been mustered, Umar consulted the leading
Muslims about the appointment of a commander-in-chief over the army. Umar proposed
himself for the position. However, Ali suggested that the Muslims were in greater
need of him as the Caliph than the army was in need of his presence on the field,
and that he should not endanger himself.

After discussion, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas was chosen as the commander. Abdur Rahman
ibn Awf, one of the veterans among the Companions of the Prophet (SAWS) said, "You
have chosen well! Who is there comparable to Saad?"

Umar stood before the great army spread around him and bade them farewell. To Saad
ibn Abi Waqqas he said, "O Saad! Do not allow any statement that you are the uncle
of the Messenger of Allah or that you are the Companion of the Messenger of Allah
distract you from Allah, the Almighty. Allah Almighty does not obliterate evil
with evil but He wipes out evil with good.

"O Saad! There is no connection between Allah and any of His Servants except
obedience to Him. In the sight of Allah, all people, whether common or noble, are
the same. Allah is their Lord and they are His servants, seeking elevation through
taqwa (piety) and seeking to obtain what is good through obedience. Consider how
the Messenger of Allah used to act with the Muslims and act accordingly�"

It was in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam, that the
influence of Islam spread from Persia to Egypt. Umar, with this parting advice to
Saad makes it amply clear that a Muslim army does not seek conquest for its own
sake, and no expedition sets out in search of personal glory and fame.

The army, when it set out from Medina, was three thousand strong. Among them,
there were ninety nine veterans of the Battle of Badr, including Saad himself.
More than three hundred of the army had also taken the Pledge of Ridhwan
(satisfaction) at Hudaybiyyah, and three hundred were of those who had
participated in the conquest of Mecca with the Noble Prophet (SAWS). There were
seven hundred children of the Companions of the Noble Prophet. Women also
accompanied the army as auxiliaries and nurses.

It was an impressive sight - until they faced the enemy. The army camped at
Qadisiyyah, near Hira. Against the three thousand Muslims, the Persians had
mobilized a force of one hundred and twenty thousand men under the leadership of
Rustum, one of their most brilliant commanders. In short, the Muslims were
outnumbered by 40 to one.

Umar had instructed Saad to keep him informed about the conditions and movements
of the Muslim forces and of the deployment of the Persian forces. Saad wrote to
Umar about the unprecedented numbers that the Persians were mobilizing. In
response Umar wrote: "Do not be troubled about what you have heard about them or
about their forces, equipment or methods they would employ against us. Seek help
with Allah and put your trust in Him. Send men of insight, knowledge and toughness
to them (the Chosroes, rulers of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia) to invite them to
Allah� And write to me daily."

Saad clearly understood the gravity of the impending battle and kept in close
contact with the Commander of the Faithful in Medina. He followed Umar's advice
and sent delegations of Muslims first to Yazdagird and then to Rustum, inviting
them to accept Islam. If they refused, they could choose to pay the jizyah (tax)
to guarantee their protection and peaceful existence or to choose war if they so
desired.

The first Muslim delegation, which included Numan ibn Muqarrin was ridiculed by
the Persian Emperor, Yazdagird. The other delegation went to Rustum, the commander
of the Persian forces. This was led by Rib'iy ibn Aamir, who rode directly into
the encampment with spear in hand, over the lush carpets, oblivious to the silks
and luxuries spread around him.

Rustum said to him, "Rib'iy! What do you want from us? If you want wealth, we will
grant it, and more provisions with it until you are satisfied. We would make you
rich and happy beyond your dreams. Look Rib'iy, at this assembly. Look upon these
luxuries, rich carpets, fine curtains, gold embroidered tapestries on the walls,
silk hangings� if you desire any of these riches, you have only to say and we will
bestow it upon you."

Rib'iy was unmoved and said: "O Commander! Certainly Allah has chosen that through
us, whosoever of His creation that He desires should be drawn away from the
worship of idols to Tauheed (the affirmation of the unity of Allah) from the
narrow confines of preoccupation with this world to its boundless expanse, and
from the tyranny of the rulers to the justice of Islam."

"Whoever accepts that from us, we are prepared to welcome him. And whoever fights
with us, we will fight him until the promise of Allah comes to pass."

"And what is the promise of Allah to you?" asked Rustum.

"Paradise for our martyrs and victory for those who live."

Rustum, of course, was in no mood to listen to such high-minded talk from a

people, as seemingly wretched as the Arabs, the likes of whom the Persians
regarded as barbaric and uncivilized and whom they had conquered and subjugated
for centuries.

The Muslim delegations returned. It was clear that war was now inevitable. Saad's
eyes filled with tears. He wished that the battle could be delayed or indeed that
it had been somewhat earlier. For on this particular day, he was seriously ill and
could hardly move. He was suffering from sciatica and could not even sit upright
from the pain.

Saad realized that this would be a bitter and harsh battle. And for a brief moment
he thought, "If only�" but then, "No!" The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) taught the
Muslims that none of us should say "If". "If" implied a lack of will and
determination. Wishing that a situation might be different was not the
characteristic of a firm believer.
So despite his illness, Saad got up and stood before his army and addressed them.
He began with the verse,
"Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): My
servants, the righteous, shall inherit the earth." [Al Anbiya; 21:105]

The address over, Saad performed the noon prayer with the army. Facing them once
more, he shouted the Muslim battle cry "Allahu Akbar!" [God is the Greatest] four
times and directed the charge with the cry, "Hayya ala barakatillah! (Charge, with
the blessings of Allah!)"

Then began a battle that raged for four days. The Muslim valor and skill were
overshadowed by the sheer numbers of the Persians. To make matters worse, a
military unit consisting of Persians mounted on elephants wrought havoc in the
ranks of Muslims. The ferocious battle was only resolved when several Muslim
warriors made a rush at Rustum. A storm arose and Rustum's canopy was blown into
the river. As he tried to flee, he was detected and slain. The Persians fled in
the complete confusion and disarray that reigned after their commander's death.

It was victory, but at a heavy price. About thirty thousand persons on both sides
fell over the course of four days fighting. In one day alone, some two thousand
Muslims and ten thousand Persians lost their lives. The Battle of Qadisiyyah is
one of the major decisive battles in history. It sealed the fate of the Sassanian
Empire just as the Battle of Yarmurk sealed the fate of the Byzantine Empire in
the east.

Two years after Qadisiyyah, Saad went on to take Ctesiphon, the Sassanian capital,
accomplished after a brilliant crossing of the Tigris while it was in flood. Saad
has thus gone down in the annals of history as the Hero of Qadisiyyah and the
Conqueror of Ctesiphon.

He lived until he was almost 80 years old. He was blessed with influence and
wealth. Yet, in the year 54 A.H, when he felt his death approaching, he asked his
son to open an old battered box. When his son had retrieved an equally battered
coarse woolen jubbah (gown) from this box, Saad said, "Shroud me in this, for in
this jubbah I met the mushrikin (polytheists) on the day of Badr (battle) and in
it I desire to meet Allah Almighty."