The Special Du‘aa of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

Hazrat ‘Aa’ishah bint Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the daughter of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), narrates the following from her father, Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):

During the Battle of Uhud, (when the enemy had attacked from the rear and many Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were killed on the battlefield,) the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) could not find Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and were moving about in confusion. At that time, I moved aside and said to myself, “I will continue to fight the kuffaar. In the process of fighting, I will either gain martyrdom or Allah Ta‘ala will allow me to remain alive. If I survive this battle, then surely, I will get to meet Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”

In this state, I suddenly saw a man covering his face due to which I could not recognize him. The disbelievers advanced towards him until I said to myself, “They have pursued him until they have finally reached him!” At that moment, the man filled his hand with pebbles and flung them into the faces of the disbelievers, causing them to turn on their heels and retreat until they reached the mountain. The man repeated this action multiple times (when the disbelievers attempted to attack him), and I did not know who he was (as I could not see his face).

Between myself and this man was Hazrat Miqdaad bin Aswad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). I had just decided to ask Hazrat Miqdaad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who this great man was when Hazrat Miqdaad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to me, “O Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! This is Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) who is calling you!” I asked Hazrat Miqdaad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Where is Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)?” In response, Hazrat Miqdaad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gestured towards the very same man.

Realizing that this man was none other than the beloved Rasul of Allah Ta‘ala (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I immediately stood in my place, and out of extreme happiness, I became totally oblivious of my wounds. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me, “O Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! Where have you been all this while?” I responded saying, “I was standing at a distance from you, from where I could see you (until the enemy attacked and I lost you).”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then seated me before him and I began to fire arrows towards the kuffaar while saying, “O Allah! This is your arrow, so make it strike your enemy!” While I was firing the arrows, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was making du‘aa for me saying, “O Allah! Answer the du‘aa of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! O Allah! Make the arrows of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) strike the target!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said to me, “Continue to fire arrows, O Sa’d! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you!” I did not fire a single arrow except that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) continued to make dua to Allah Ta‘ala  to make my arrow strike its target and to answer my dua when I supplicate to him.

Finally, when all the arrows in my quiver were finished, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spread out the arrows of his quiver and handed me an arrow with feathers on it to shoot in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.

Imaam Zuhri (rahimahullah) has mentioned that Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fired 1000 arrows during the Battle of Uhud.

(Mustadrak Haakim #4314)