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He belonged to the Banu Zuhrah clan of Makka. Sa'd was the paternal cousin of the Holy Prophet's mother Aminah. Sa'd was among the early converts and is said to have been only 17 years old at the time of conversion. He was brought to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) together with Abd ar-Rahman bin 'Awf by Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ). His mother had threatened him that she would die of starvation if he did not abandon Islam but he remained steadfast and she had to give in. The Quran in the following verse supports Sa'd firmness:
"But if they (your parents) strive to make you join in the worship with Me things of which you have no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice, and follow the way of those who turn to Me... ... .. (31:15).
Sa'd (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) is one of the ten blessed companions. Sa'd participated in all the battles led by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and was actively engaged in the important expeditions afterward. He fought bravely in the wars against the Persians. Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) appointed him the Governor of Persia. He was the commander of the Muslim army in the conquest of Iraq and he laid the foundation of the town of Kufa. He was the hero of the decisive battle of Qadsiya against the Persians, though he himself was ill and issued orders from his bed. On his deathbed, Umar (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) empowered six important companions and Sa'd was one of them.
He was made the Governor of Kufa during Uthman's caliphate. After Uthman's murder, Sa'd was requested to become caliph but he refused. When Ali was elected as caliph, Sa'd withdrew from politics till his death in Medinah where he was buried. Sa'd performed meritorious services from Islam since the beginning. When he was seen in the company of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) the Quraish said that they would accept Islam if poor men like Sa'd (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) were not allowed to sit with the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).
The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) received a revelation in support of Sa'd (and similar other poor people) and rejected the request of the Quraish. According to hadith, Sa'd was the first Arab to shoot an arrow in the path of God. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O God answer Sa'd when he supplicates you." During the battle of Uhad Holy Prophet was heard by Ali as saying,
"O Sa'd! Shoot the arrows; may my mother and father be sacrificed on you."
Hazrat Sa'd (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) left behind 250 thousand dirhams and according to his wish was buried in the shroud made from the gown he was wearing in the battle of Uhud.
