Subhanallah, this is the bow of the first archer in the history of Islam to ever aim an arrow for the sake of Allah! It is preserved in Madinah's Ottoman railway museum. Do you know the name of this hero and his story?
He is the Sahabee (companion of prophet Muhammed ﷺ) Sayyadina Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, related to our most noble holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) from his mother side, one of the 10 companions promised paradise, and the longest living among them all!
When he prepared his bow and aimed the arrow, our most noble and beloved Prophet ﷺ would say "Throw Sa'ad, may my father and mother be sacrificed for your sake (a common Arabic honorary expression) ارم سعد فداك ابي و امي"!
While he never missed a single battle with our most noble Prophet ﷺ, his most heroic day was the battle of Uhud, when the archers disobeyed the Prophet ﷺ and left their positions open Sayyadina Sa'ad stayed there and threw over a 1000 arrows. He then went down to be from the few who protected the Prophet of Allah against all odds!
He is also the leader of the conquest of the Persian Empire, the strongest empire on earth at that time, where he won a sliding victory against an enemy 8 times his size!
Sayyadina Sa'ad was the very last immigrant (muhajir) to die in the year 55 AH, may Allah have mercy on his soul, make his bravery an inspiration for us, and make us from those will join the 10 promised paradise on the final day. Ameen..
