Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad:1566Yaḥyá b. Saʿīd > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd b. Mālik

"I was the first man among the Arabs to shoot an arrow in Allah's cause. I saw that we battled along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was no food for us but Al-Hubla and this Samur, such that one of us would leave droppings like the droppings of a sheep. Then Banu Asad appeared wanting to instruct me in religion. I would be a loser and have wasted my efforts." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2366)  

أحمد:١٥٦٦حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لأوَّلُ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ نَأْكُلُهُ إِلا وَرَقَ الْحُبْلَةِ وَهَذَا السَّمُرَ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُخِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي عَلَى الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذَنْ وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī, Aḥmad, Dārimī, Ibn Ḥibbān, Aḥmad's Zuhd
bukhari:3728ʿAmr b. ʿAwn > Khālid b. ʿAbdullāh > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd

I heard Saʿd saying, "I was the first amongst the 'Arabs who shot an arrow for Allah's Cause. We used to fight along with the Prophets, while we had nothing to eat except the leaves of trees so that one's excrete would look like the excrete balls of camel or a sheep, containing nothing to mix them together. Today Banu Asad tribe blame me for not having understood Islam. I would be a loser if my deeds were in vain." Those people complained about Saʿd to ʿUmar, claiming that he did not offer his prayers perfectly.  

البخاري:٣٧٢٨حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ قَيْسٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدًا ؓ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لأَوَّلُ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُنَّا نَغْزُو مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ وَرَقُ الشَّجَرِ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا يَضَعُ الْبَعِيرُ أَوِ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ تُعَزِّرُنِي عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي وَكَانُوا وَشَوْا بِهِ إِلَى عُمَرَ قَالُوا لاَ يُحْسِنُ يُصَلِّي  

bukhari:6453Musaddad > Yaḥyá > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd

I was the first man among the Arabs to throw an arrow for Allah's Cause. We used to fight in Allah's Cause while we had nothing to eat except the leaves of the Hubla and the Sumur trees (desert trees) so that we discharged excrement like that of sheep (i.e. unmixed droppings). Today the (people of the) tribe of Bani Asad teach me the laws of Islam. If so, then I am lost, and all my efforts of that hard time had gone in vain.  

البخاري:٦٤٥٣حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدًا يَقُولُ إِنِّي لأَوَّلُ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَرَأَيْتُنَا نَغْزُو وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ وَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ وَهَذَا السَّمُرُ وَإِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ تُعَزِّرُنِي عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ سَعْيِي  

muslim:2966a[Chain 1] Yaḥyá b. Ḥabīb al-Ḥārithī > al-Muʿtamir > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd [Chain 2] Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. Numayr > Abū And Ibn Bishr > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd b. Abū Waqqāṣ

By Allah, I am the first person amongst the Arabs to throw an arrow in the cause of Allah and we used to go with Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was no food for us to eat but only the leaves of hubla and samur trees (they are wild trees) and as a result thereof one amongst us would relieve himself as does the goat. (How strange it is) that now the people of Banu Asad (the progeny of Zubair) instruct me in religion and try to impose punishment upon me (in regard to it). If it is so (that I am so ignorant of religion), then indeed, I am undone and my deeds have been lost. Ibn Numair, however, did not make a mention of the word (idhan) thus? (in his narration).  

مسلم:٢٩٦٦aحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ قَيْسٍ عَنْ سَعْدٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَابْنُ بِشْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنْ قَيْسٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَوَّلُ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ كُنَّا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ نَأْكُلُهُ إِلاَّ وَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ وَهَذَا السَّمُرُ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ تُعَزِّرُنِي عَلَى الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي وَلَمْ يَقُلِ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ إِذًا  

tirmidhi:2366Muḥammad b. Bashhār > Yaḥyá b. Saʿīd > Ismāʿīl b. Abū Khālid > Qays > Saʿd b. Mālik

"I was the first man among the Arabs to shoot an arrow in Allah's cause. I saw that we battled along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was no food for us but Al-Hubla and this Samur, such that one of us would leave droppings like the droppings of a sheep. Then Banu Asad appeared wanting to instruct me in religion. I would be a loser and have wasted my efforts."  

الترمذي:٢٣٦٦حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ الْحُبُلَةَ وَهَذَا السَّمُرَ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي فِي الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ
ahmad:1618Yazīd b. Hārūn > Ismāʿīl > Qays Qālasamiʿt Saʿd b. Mālik

By Allah, I am the first person amongst the Arabs to throw an arrow in the cause of Allah and we used to go with Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was no food for us to eat but only the leaves of hubla and samur trees (they are wild trees) and as a result thereof one amongst us would relieve himself as does the goat. (How strange it is) that now the people of Banu Asad (the progeny of Zubair) instruct me in religion and try to impose punishment upon me (in regard to it). If it is so (that I am so ignorant of religion), then indeed, I am undone and my deeds have been lost. Ibn Numair, however, did not make a mention of the word (idhan) thus? (in his narration). (Using translation from Muslim 2966a)   

أحمد:١٦١٨حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنْ قَيْسٍ

قَالَسَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ وَاللهِ إِنِّي لأوَّلُ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ لَقَدْ كُنَّا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ نَأْكُلُهُ إِلا وَرَقَ الْحُبْلَةِ وَهَذَا السَّمُرَ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي عَلَى الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذَنْ وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي  

ahmad:1498Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > Ismāʿīl > Qays b. Abū Ḥāzim

[Machine] Saad, I have seen myself seventh of seven with the messenger of Allah ﷺ , and we did not have food except the leaves of a date palm tree. One of us would tie his waist with a stone to ease the hunger, then Banu Asad became powerful and tried to force me to denounce Islam. I have truly lost and my effort has gone astray.  

أحمد:١٤٩٨حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَيْسَ بْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ

سَعْدٌ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي سَابِعَ سَبْعَةٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا وَرَقَ الْحُبْلَةِ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا يُخَالِطُهُ شَيْءٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي عَلَى الْإِسْلامِ لَقَدْ خَسِرْتُ إِذَنْ وَضَلَّ سَعْيِي  

darimi:2459Yaʿlá > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd b. Abū Waqqāṣ

[Machine] "We used to go on military expeditions with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with no food except for dates and the leaves of Hurbah, to the extent that one of us would place his hand on his stomach like a sheep because of hunger. Then, the Banu Asad became strong and they started to oppress me. I felt weak and my work was lost."  

الدارمي:٢٤٥٩أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْلَى حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنْ قَيْسٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ قَالَ

«كُنَّا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا هَذَا السَّمُرُ وَوَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذَنْ وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي»  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ سَعْدًا أَوَّلُ مَنْ رَمَى مِنَ الْعَرَبِ بِالسَّهْمِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

ibnhibban:6989ʿUmar b. Muḥammad b. Bujayr al-Hamdānī > Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Aʿlá > Muʿtamir > Ismāʿīl > Qays > Saʿd

By Allah, I am the first person amongst the Arabs to throw an arrow in the cause of Allah and we used to go with Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was no food for us to eat but only the leaves of hubla and samur trees (they are wild trees) and as a result thereof one amongst us would relieve himself as does the goat. (How strange it is) that now the people of Banu Asad (the progeny of Zubair) instruct me in religion and try to impose punishment upon me (in regard to it). If it is so (that I am so ignorant of religion), then indeed, I am undone and my deeds have been lost. Ibn Numair, however, did not make a mention of the word (idhan) thus? (in his narration). (Using translation from Muslim 2966a)   

ابن حبّان:٦٩٨٩أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُجَيْرٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ قَيْسٍ عَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ

«وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَوَّلُ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ كُنَّا لَنَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ نَأْكُلُهُ إِلَّا وَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ وَهَذَا السَّمُرُ حَتَّى إِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ تُعَزِّرُنِي عَلَى الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي»  

ahmad-zuhd:170ʿAbdullāh from my father > Wakīʿ > Ibn Abū Khālid > Qays b. Abū Ḥāzim > Saʿd

[Machine] I heard Saad say, "Indeed, I am the first man from the Arabs who shot an arrow in the cause of Allah. And I have seen us with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we had no food except for leaves and the fruits of the Hubble-bubble tree to the point that one of us would tie a belt around his stomach like a goat, but he wouldn't mix it with anything."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٧٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ سَعْدًا ؓ يَقُولُ «إِنِّي لَأَوَّلُ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا السَّمُرُ وَوَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ حَتَّى إِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الْعَنْزُ؛ مَا لَهُ خِلْطٌ»