Saʿd ibn Muʿādh al-Ansari (Arabic: سعد بن معاذ الأنصاري) (c. 590-627) was the chief of the Aws tribe in Medina and one of the prominent companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
[1]: 329 As'ad ibn Zurarah, chief of the al-Najjar clan of the Khazraj, was Sa'd's maternal first cousin.
[1]: 440 Sa'd was among the leading figures among the Ansar, as Muhammad had called the people of Aws and Khazraj from Medina who converted to Islam.
[3]Before the Battle of Badr, Sa'd had visited Mecca once to perform his Umrah with his non-Muslim friend Umayyah ibn Khalaf, when they came across Abu Jahl.
They argued, and as it became heated, Sa'd threatened Abu Jahl with preventing his safe passage through Medina if he stopped the Muslims from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca.
When Allah's Messenger arrived at Medina, Sa`d went to perform `Umra and stayed at Umayya's home in Mecca.
Abu Jahl addressed Sa`d saying, "I see you wandering about safely in Mecca even though you have given shelter to the people who have changed their religion (i.e. became Muslims) and have claimed that you will help them and support them.
Sa`d, raising his voice, said to him, "By Allah, if you should stop me from doing this (i.e. performing Tawaf) I would certainly prevent you from something which is more valuable for you, that is, your passage through Medina."
But when the day of (the Ghazwa of) Badr came, Abu Jahl called the people to war, saying, "Go and protect your caravan."
Abu Jahl kept on urging him to go until he (i.e. Umayya) said, "As you have forced me to change my mind, by Allah, I will buy the best camel in Mecca.
Sa'd's brother 'Amr and his stepson (nephew) al-Harith ibn Aws were both among those who were killed at Uhud.
[1]: 342–343 After the Battle of the Trench in 627 (5 AH), when Medina was unsuccessfully besieged by the Meccan army, the Banu Qurayza had treacherous dealings with the enemy.
Several members of the Banu Aws pleaded for their old Jewish allies and agreed to Muhammad's proposal that one of their chiefs should judge the matter.
[10][11] Sa'd pronounced that all the men should be put to death, their possessions to be distributed among Muslims, and their women and children to be taken as captives.
He dutifully served as a member of the Muslim community and even commanded military campaigns for Muhammad during his lifetime.
In Muslim history, he is well regarded as a noble companion who enjoyed a close relationship with Muhammad.
Through another group of narrators, Jabir added, "I heard the Prophet saying, 'The Throne of the Beneficent shook because of the death of Saad bin Muadh.
"[13]Even after his death Muhammad made constant references praising him: A silken cloth was given as a present to the Prophet .
"[14]According to one Hadith, Muhammad bestowed him a title of "Siddiq al-Ansar", (rightful man of Ansar or truthful man of Ansar), which according to later era scholars of Hadith, were counterpart of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a Siddiq which hailed from Muhajirun.