Is the claim that the Companion Sa’d b. Muadh had some bad characteristics true?

- I read a story. I want to ask if I understood correctly. This is the story:

Imam Sadiq narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was informed about the death of Sa’d bin Muadh, he got up and went to his house with his Companions. While the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was accompanying the funeral procession, he was walking barefoot and without a cloak.  He held sometimes the right and sometimes the left side of the coffin until they reached the grave. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) himself entered into the grave and placed the corpse in the grave. Then, he covered the corpse with his blessed hands and threw soil on it. Meanwhile, Sa’d’s mother came next to the grave and said:

“O Sa’d! May Paradise be blessed for you!” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

 “O Sa’d’s mother! Be quiet! Do not speak so definitely in terms of Allah. Now Sa’d is suffering punishment in the grave and is tortured because of it”...

In the next part of the hadith, our Prophet says, “The reason why Sa’d suffered the torment of grave was that he had some bad characteristics at home.”

- Will Sa’d be tortured because his mother said “May Paradise be blessed for you”? If it is a sin to talk like that, should Sa’d’s mother or Sa’d be the tormented?

Dear Brother / Sister,

This story is narrated on the internet without any source being given. We could not find this information in sound (sahih) sources.

However, there are some hadith narrations showing that this story is not true:

1) The Prophet (pbuh) said for Sa’d b. Muadh, “The Throne of Rahman trembled because of his death.” (Bukhari, Manaqibul-Ansar, 12; Tirmidhi, Manaqib,5; Hakim, 3/227)

Various interpretations were made about this hadith. However, the common point of all interpretations is that the Throne of Rahman trembled - with joy - because of the value of Sa’d b. Muadh in the sight of Allah. (see Ibn Hajar, Fathul-Bari, 7/132-134)

2) Some hypocrites who were among those carrying the corpse said that Muadh’s corpse was very light because of the decree he gave about the Jews of Sons of Qurayza (to imply that he was a worthless person). When the Prophet (pbuh) heard it, he said,

“Angels were carrying his dead body (therefore, it was light).” (see Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 51; Ibn Hajar, ibid)

3) According to a narration, Sa’d b. Muadh passed away at night. Gabriel (Jibril) went to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: “Who died tonight? The gates of the heavens were opened for him and the Throne of Rahman trembled?” The Prophet went to Sa’d Muadh, who was ill, and saw that he had passed away. (Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 3/227)

4) When Sa’d b. Muadh passed away, his mother cried out to relieve her grief over the death of her son addressing herself:

“Your son is the first person to whom Allah smiled and the one for whom the Throne trembled. Should your tears not stop now and the sadness not go away?” (see Hakim, 3/228)

This hadith narration was accepted to be sound by both Hakim and Dhahabi. (see ibid)

5) According to a narration from Aisha (ra), the Prophet (pbuh) said: “If only one person were to be saved from the pressure of the grave, Sa’d b. Muadh would have been saved.” This narration of Ahmed b. Hanbal is sound. (see Majmauz-Zawaid, h.no: 4255)

The virtue of Sad b. Muadh is emphasized in the hadith.

6) The following is stated in the narration reported from Ibn Abbas: “If only one person were to be saved from the pressure or questioning of the grave, Sa’d b. Muadh would definitely have been saved. However, the grave squeezed him a bit and then released him.” This hadith, which Tabarani narrated in (al-Kabir, al-Awsat), is sound. (see Majmauz-Zawaid, h. no:4257)

7) After leading Sa’d’s janazah prayer with the participation of the angels, our Prophet (pbuh) started walking on the tips of his blessed toes while carrying the corpse. He gave the following answer to those who wondered about it: “All the people of the sky have come down to accompany this funeral; I am ashamed to step on the ground.” (Bukhari, Manaqib, 12)

8) Our Prophet (pbuh) was given a robe made of fine silk brocade as a gift. The Prophet had forbidden wearing silk clothes for men. People really liked that robe. Our Prophet (pbuh) said, “I swear by the One in whose hand my soul (power) is, Sa’d b. Muadh’s handkerchiefs in Paradise are better than this.” (Bukhari, Manaqibul-Ansar, 12)

The fact that neither Muadh’s mother statement mentioned in the question nor the Prophet (pbuh)’s answer to it is included in all those hadith narrations is an indication that the story mentioned in the question is not true.

For more information, click on the link given below;

Why did the grave squeeze Sa´d b. Muadh though 70.000 angels took part in his janazah prayer?

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