He is successful in this world and in the Hereafter, to whom Allah is pleased. Of course, Allah Ta’ala keeps testing repeatedly the one he loves in the world. Those who pass the test, they return with the pleasure of Allah. Verily, Allah Ta’ala has made many people for His Messenger as the companion who was ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah. One of them was Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA). He and his father were beloved persons to Allah before and after Islam. Allah Ta’ala was pleased with him and his father.
Now I will present to you some information about Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA) and his father that will describe to you their identities. At the same time, I will mention some stories about them from various acceptable Islamic books, which will make their dignity clear to you strongly. So let’s know first about Sa’id bin Zayd’s (RA) notable things.
Who was Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA)?
Sa’id bin Zayd (RA) was a famous companion of the Messenger of Allah, to whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave the glad tidings of Paradise while he was still in the world. His real name is Sa’id, his nickname is Abul Awar, his father’s name is Zayd bin Amr, and his mother’s name is Fatima bint Ba’jah. Sa’id (RA) was born in Mecca City in Saudi Arabia. He was of Quraish descent. His father was also born in Mecca. His father Zayd bin Amr and his forefathers were residents of Mecca.
Sa’id (RA)’s genealogy is Sa’id bin Zayd bin Amr bin Nufail bin Abdul Uzza bin Riyaah bin Abdullah bin Kurt bin Razah bin Adi bin Ka’b bin Lu’ai. And Sa’id’s mother’s genealogy is Fatima bint Ba’jah bin Umayya bin Khuwailid bin Khalid bin Al Ma’mar bin Hayyan bin Gan’m bin Malih. She was of Al-Khuza’ah descent. [Tabaqat al-Kubra, volume 3, page 379]
His father remained steadfast in the religion of Ibrahim (A.)
Sa’id (RA)’s father Zayd was one of the fortunate people who was a monotheist even in the dark age of disbelief, polytheism, and paganism before the advent of Islam. Zayd did not Kufr, Shirk, or Idolatry even in that dark age. He did not eat the meat of animals slaughtered in the name of other than Allah. He was a doer of good and he remained steadfast in the religion of Ibrahim (A) till his death. In this regard, Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Sa’d (Rh) has mentioned that
Amer bin Rabiah (RA.) said that Zayd bin Amr bin Nufail used to seek the religion of Ibrahim (A.) and disliked Judaism, Christianity, idol worship, and stone worship. He was opposed to his nation, and he also was apart from their gods and different from what their forefathers worshiped. He did not eat the meat of their slaughtered animals. Zayd said to me, ‘O Amer, I have opposed my nation, and I have followed the religion of Ibrahim, and whom he worshiped, and whom Ismael worshiped after him. And they used to pray towards this Kabah.’
So I am waiting for a prophet who will come from the descendants of Ismael (A). I don’t think I can reach him. And I have believed in him and I have attested to him. I testify that he is a prophet (of Allah). (O Amer) If you see him, greet him on my behalf.
Amer (RA.) said,
Then when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) claimed to be a prophet, I accepted Islam and I told him about Zayd and greeted him on his behalf. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) answered his salutation, prayed for mercy on him, and said, “Surely I have seen him in Paradise, he is walking while dragging the fringe of the clothes.” [Tabaqat al-Kubra, volume 3, page 379]
When did Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA.) accept Islam?
Darul Arqam was the house of Al-Arqam bin Abul Arqam bin Asad bin Abdullah bin Amr Al-Makhzumi (RA) which was located in Mecca city. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to gather in that house with all the Companions who accepted Islam at the beginning of Islam. In that house, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach them the fundamentals of religion and etiquette. There they secretly worshiped Allah. Anyone who wanted to accept Islam would secretly come to that house, fearing that the Quraish would harm him. [As-Sirah An-Nabawiyah Li Muhammad Abu Shuhbah, volume 1, page: 289]
After receiving the Prophethood, the Prophet (peace be upon him) secretly started preaching Islam among the people. Sa’id (RA) was among them who believed first in Allah and His Messenger. Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA) accepted Islam before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered Darul Arqam and before He (peace be upon him) invited the people in there. [Tabaqat al-Kubra, volume 3, page 382]
And Sa’id (RA) did not accept Islam alone, rather his wife Fatima bint Al-Khattab, the sister of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, also accepted Islam with him. Due to his acceptation Islam, he was subjected to many persecutions like the others. The Quraish tried their best to turn him away from Islam, but he did not turn away from Islam. Verily, Sa’id (RA) and His wife inspired Umar bin Khattab (RA), an important figure in the Quraish, to Islam. [Al-Mausu’ah At-Tarikhiyyah, volume 1, page: 13]
What was his contribution to Islam?
Sa’id (RA) sacrificed his life, wealth, time, and everything to elevate the religion of Allah and to gain the pleasure of Allah. Throughout his life, he obeyed every command and prohibition of Islam. He migrated from Mecca to Medina to save Islam, the religion of Allah. He fought in the way of Allah many times with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and after his death. Certainly, He never backed down from obeying Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).
Imam Muhammad bin Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Shawkani (Rh) has mentioned:
And it is enough for (the status and contribution of) Sa’id ibn Zayd that he was one of the 10 people who received the good news of Paradise. He participated in Uhud and all the battles after it. He was (indirectly one of the Badri) Companions since the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had imposed for him the portion (of Al-Ghanimah) and the reward (of the Hereafter). [Darr-us-sahabah fi manaqib al-qarabah, page 257]
How many hadiths did Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA.) narrate from Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)?
Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA) has narrated very few hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). 48 hadiths have been narrated in his source. Both Imam Bukhari (Rh) and Imam Muslim (Rh) have narrated two hadiths, and Imam Bukhari (Rh) alone has narrated 3 hadiths in his source. [Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, volume 1, page: 143]
Also, Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Hakim Nishapuri (Rh) has mentioned 2 hadiths in his source in Sahihain. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Rh) has mentioned 28 hadiths in his source in Musnad Ahmad.
His dignity
Sa’id (RA) was a respected and important person in Islam. In the history of Islam and in various books of Hadith, there are many descriptions of his dignity. So now I will briefly mention a few notable things from those.
Sa’id (RA) accepted Islam long before Umar (RA) and remained steadfast on Islam. And he strongly condemned those who killed Uthman (RA). In this regard, Narrated Qais: I heard Sa`id bin Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail (RA) saying in the mosque of Al-Kufa. “By Allah, I have seen myself tied and forced by Umar (RA) to leave Islam before Umar (RA) himself embraced Islam. And if the mountain of Uhud could move from its place for the evil which you people have done to Uthman (RA), then it would have the right to move from its place.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3862]
Sa’id (RA) was a person when who prayed to Allah, then Allah would accept his prayers. Sa’id bin Zayd bin Amr bin Nufail (RA) reported that Arwa (bint Uwais) disputed with him (in regard to a part of the land) of his house. He (RA) said: Leave her and it (i.e., the part of the land), for I heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: “He who took a span of land without his right would be made to wear around his neck seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.” He (Sa’id bin Zayd (RA) also) said: O Allah, make her blind if she has told a lie and make her grave in her house.
The narrator of the Hadith said:
I saw her (liar woman) blind groping (her way) by touching the walls and saying: The curse of Sa’id bin Zaid (RA) has hit me. And it so happened that as she was walking in her house, she passed by a well in her house and fell therein and that became her grave. [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1610]
Sa’id (RA) was the greatest man in Medina. In this regard, Ibn Sa’id bin Zayd said: Muawiyah (RA) sent messengers to Marwan bin Hakam in Madinah that so accepts Marwan the pledging to Muawiyah son Yazid. At that time Sa’id bin Zayd (RA) was absent (in Medina). So Marwan waited for Sa’id (RA).
Then one person of Sham (Levant city) said to Marwan, “What is holding you back (from accepting the pledge to Yazid)?” Marwan said, “Until Sa’id bin Zayd (RA) arrives (So I am waiting for him).” Because he is a great person among the people of Medina. So when he accepts the pledging (to Yazid), then the people will also accept the pledging. So Sa’id (RA) delayed (coming to Medina). Finally, Marwan accepted the pledging (to Yazid). And Sa’id bin Zayd (RA) refrained from accepting the pledging (to Yazid). [Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, volume 3, page: 496]
His death
Sa’id (RA) died in a place called Aqiq in Saudi Arabia. The people carried him on their shoulders and brought him to Medina. He was then buried there. Sa’d (RA) and Ibn Umar (RA) descended on his grave to take him down. He died in the year 50 or 51 AH. He was over 70 years old on the day he died. [Tabaqat al-Kubra, volume 3, page 385]
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the grace to remain steadfast in the religion of Islam and to obey His every command and prohibition properly. Ameen.
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