Sa'id ibn Zayd

A Brief Introduction to the Companion Sa'id ibn Zaid

He is Sa'id ibn Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufayl, the cousin of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), and the husband of his sister Fatimah. He is also known as Abu Zaid. He embraced Islam along with his wife at the beginning of the mission of Muhammad (peace be upon him), even before Umar ibn al-Khattab accepted Islam. Umar embraced Islam in the house of Sa'id ibn Zaid. He (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the distinguished companions who immigrated and was one of the first to do so. He is also one of the ten companions who promised paradise.

The Islam of Sa'id ibn Zaid

Sa'id ibn Zaid's father, Zaid ibn Amr, was one of those who believed in the oneness of God during the pre-Islamic period (Jahiliyya). However, he passed away before the Prophet's (peace be upon him) mission began. As for his son Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him), he witnessed the Prophet and believed in him, making him one of the early converts to Islam.

He and his wife, Fatimah bint al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with her), were among the first to embrace Islam, and they both migrated in the path of faith.

The Story of Sa'id ibn Zaid with the Islam of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Umar ibn al-Khattab initially set out with his sword to kill the Prophet (peace be upon him) before his own conversion to Islam. However, some of the disbelievers from the Quraysh intercepted him and informed him that his sister and her husband had embraced the religion of Muhammad. Umar then changed his direction and confronted them. When he arrived, he found Khabbab ibn al-Aratt with them, reciting verses from Surah Taha.

Upon inquiring about their conversion to Islam, Sa'id ibn Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in defense of the truth brought by Islam. Umar struck him harshly, and Fatimah, Sa'id's wife, came to his rescue, pushing Umar away. In his anger, Umar hit her in the face, causing her to bleed. Fatimah then boldly declared her acceptance of Islam, bearing witness to the two testimonies of faith.

When Umar felt helpless, he found the parchment upon which the verses were written. He requested it, and Fatimah informed him that he needed to purify himself before touching it. Umar followed her advice and then started reading from the parchment. When he reached the verse that said, "So believe in Allah and His Messenger" (Quran, Surah Taha, 20:47), Allah illuminated his heart with Islam, and he pronounced the two testimonies of faith.

Sa'id and his wife were overjoyed and informed Umar that this was a supplication made by the Prophet (peace be upon him), saying, "O Allah, strengthen your religion through the conversion of either Abu Jahl ibn Hisham or Umar ibn al-Khattab." Umar inquired about the whereabouts of the Prophet, and they told him where he could find him. Umar went and declared his conversion to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

In this way, Sa'id ibn Zaid and his wife Fatimah played a significant role in the conversion of Umar ibn al-Khattab, and their faith contributed to the strength of Islam.

His Role in the Time of the Noble Prophet

Sa'id ibn Zaid witnessed many battles and expeditions alongside the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), except for the Battle of Badr, during which he was sent by the Prophet (peace be upon him) with Talha to spy on the Quraysh and gather information about them. When Sa'id ibn Zaid and his companion Talha returned, the Battle of Badr had already concluded. Nevertheless, the Prophet (peace be upon him) shot their arrows to ensure they received their share of the reward.

His Role in the Era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Beyond

Sa'id ibn Zaid also participated in the Battle of Yarmouk and the conquest of Damascus. Abu Ubaidah appointed him as the governor of Damascus, making him the first to govern this territory on behalf of the Muslim community.

However, Sa'id ibn Zaid was not content with this position and sent a letter to Abu Ubaidah, suggesting that he find another governor who might be more eager to take on this responsibility. Afterward, he resumed his journey in the path of jihad.

The Story of Sa'id ibn Zaid's Answered Prayer

Sa'id ibn Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for having his prayers answered. Once, a woman named Arwa bint Awais accused him of wrongdoing, claiming that he had wronged her and encroached upon her property. This accusation was brought to Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who was the governor of Medina at the time.

Sa'id vehemently denied the allegations and wanted to clear his name before the Muslim community. He turned to Allah, saying, "O Allah, if she is lying, then cause her to lose her sight and kill her in her own land." As a result of his supplication, Allah decreed that the woman would die by falling into a pit in her own land while walking, thus fulfilling Sa'id's request.

Death of Said Ibn Zaid

Said ibn Zayd, companion of the Prophet Muhammad and brother-in-law of Umar, died in 671 CE (51 AH). This occurred during the reign of Muawiyah I.

His death took place in al-Aqiq, located near Medina.  Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas and Abdullah ibn Umar are reported to have carried his body back to Medina for burial.