The Role of Banu Sa'd in Islamic History

اسلامی تاریخ میں بنو سعد کا کردار

Abstract

An important and complex role in early Islamic history was performed by the Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr, a well-known clan of the Hawazin tribe. Their most well-known accomplishment was caring for the Prophet Muhammad when he was still a baby. For several years, Halimah bint Abi Dhu‘ayb al-Sa’diyah and her family raised the young Prophet in the desert. This experience was crucial to his growth and was subsequently mentioned for the blessings it bestowed upon the tribe. Like a large portion of Hawazin, the Banu Sa'd initially rejected the emerging Muslim society. This was especially evident at the Battle of Hunayn (8 AH/630 CE). They all converted to Islam after the Prophet's extraordinary kindness and their defeat. Members of the Banu Sa'd joined the early Muslim community (ummah) and participated in military operations (futuhat) as Muslims, assimilating into the growing Islamic state. Their latter importance stems from the fact that they produced eminent scholars, especially in the field of hadith, including the well-known Twelver Shi'i scholar Al-Shaykh Al-Saduq (Ibn Babawayh). As a result, the Banu Sa'd changed from being the Prophet's first caretakers to being his enemies to becoming his devoted followers, creating a lasting legacy via their early association with the Prophet's life as well as their later contributions to Islamic scholarship and society.