Question
I was reading that that Sayyiduna Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was the first to shoot an arrow in the part of Allah. I also read that he was the first to shed blood. I would like to know the reference for him being the first to shed blood for the sake of Allah.
Answer
Sayyiduna Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was certainly the first to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah Ta’ala. See the narrations here.
As far as him being the first to shed blood, Imam Ibn Ishaq (rahimahullah) has recorded a narration which states that Sayyiduna Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was once in a valley with some Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) when some disbelievers appeared and began mocking them and fought with them. Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhu) struck one of them wounding him and causing him to bleed. Thus he was the first to shed blood for the sake of Allah.
(Sirah ibn Ishaq, pg. 147, Darul Fikr edition. Also see: Al Isabah, vol. 4 pg. 288, under the biography of Sayyiduna Sa’d radiyallahu ‘anhu)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar