is among the highest-ranking martyrs—may Allah be pleased with him.

It is as though, dear reader, you imagine that the one who triumphs will meet with no dread in either realm—no terror, no pain, no fear. Ask your Lord for well-being, and that He gather us in the company of Saʿd.

Shuʿbah narrated: Saʿd ibn Ibrāhīm told us, from Nāfiʿ, from ʿĀʾishah, that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The grave exerts a squeeze; and were anyone to be spared it, Saʿd ibn Muʿādh would have been.” (1) Its chain of transmission is strong.

ʿUqbah ibn Mukram reported: Ibn Abī ʿAdī related to us, from Shuʿbah, from Saʿd ibn Ibrāhīm, from Nāfiʿ, from Ṣafiyyah bint Abī ʿUbayd, from ʿĀʾishah, that the Prophet ﷺ said, “If anyone could escape the grave’s constriction, Saʿd would have.” (2)

Yazīd ibn Hārūn reported: Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr informed us, from Wāqid ibn ʿAmr ibn Saʿd, who said:

I visited Anas ibn Mālik—and Wāqid was one of the tallest and most imposing of men—so Anas asked me, “Who are you?”

I replied, “I am Wāqid ibn ʿAmr ibn Saʿd ibn Muʿādh.”

He said, “You are the very image of Saʿd!” Then he wept, and wept at length. After that he said, “May Allah have mercy on Saʿd. He was among the greatest and tallest of people. The Messenger of Allah once sent an army against Ukaydir (3) of Dūmah, and Ukaydir sent the Prophet ﷺ a cloak of silk brocade woven with gold. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ put it on, and the Companions began to touch it and gaze at it.

He said, ‘Are you amazed at this cloak?’

They answered, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we have never seen…’