Sa'id bin Zayd R, Said bin zayd R

>>Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S)

Sa'id bin Zayd R

Sa'id bin Zayd R was one of the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early Muslims).

His father Zayd bin 'Amr R was one of the very few Quraysh who did neither believed in nor practiced idolatry - the religion of the Quraysh; before the advent of Islam. Before Islam, Arabs often buried their girl children alive. Zayd bin 'Amr R was one of the first person to oppose that barbaric tradition. He had saved and raised many girls who were about to be buried alive by their families.

Zayd bin 'Amr R never participated in the celebrations of various gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Quraysh and other Arab tribes. He traveled widely in search of the True religion of Allah (God).

He used to practice the religion of Ibrahim A (Abraham). The Quraysh used to harass him for his religious beliefs including his brother Khattab bin 'Amr.
He used to tell people that he was waiting for a Messenger of Allah (God) to come among the descendents of Isma'il A (Ishmael), but he was murdered five years before Allah (God) chose Muhammad S as His final Rasul (Messenger).
He was buried near Mount Hira, where Allah (God) sent His first Wahi (Message from Allah) to Muhammad S.

Sa'id bin Zayd R was born in Makkah in the year 22BH (Before Hijrah) (600 CE). He had inherited his father's religious beliefs of Islamic Monotheism, and accepted Islam at a young age. He along with his wife became Muslim when only a handful of people had accepted it. They went through all sorts of abuse, ridicule and torture because of their decision.

His mother Fatimah R was also among the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early Muslims). Sa'id bin Zayd R was married to Fatimah bint Khattab R, sister of 'Umar bin Khattab R, who later became the second Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims.

'Umar bin Khattab was a strong opponent of Islam, before he converted to Islam. He was greatly distressed by the bifurcation of the Quraysh tribe because of Islam. In his anguish, he wanted to kill the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, to cement the divided Quraysh tribe.

One day he decided to resolve the dispute for ever. He took out his sword out of its sheath and rushed towards Dar Arqam (House of Arqam R) where the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and his Sahabah (Companions) used to meet in secret during the early days of Islam.
On the way, 'Umar bin Khattab met a Sahabi (Companion) named Nu'aym bin 'Abdullah R. Nu'aym bin 'Abdullah R could gather by the aggressive stance of 'Umar bin Khattab that his intentions are very serious. Upon enquiry 'Umar bin Khattab told him that he is going to kill the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, who was responsible for dividing the once so cohesive Quraysh tribe.
Nu'aym bin 'Abdullah R advised 'Umar bin Khattab to take care of his immediate family first. He told him that his sister Fatimah bint Khattab R and her husband Sa'id bin Zayd R had also accepted Islam.
'Umar bin Khattab was outraged at this news. In a fit of anger, he rushed to the house of Sa'id bin Zayd R, to take care of his sister and brother in-law first. When he reached there, both Sa'id bin Zayd R and his wife Fatimah bint Khattab R were listening to the recitation of the Qur-an by Khabbab bin Arrat R. He was reciting from the twentieth Surah (Chapter) of the Holy Qur-an named Ta-Ha.
'Umar bin Khattab heard his recitation from the outside when he reached their house. He was in a state of confusion, the recitation did have a strange tranquilizing effect on him, but his anger overcame it.
He entered their house and started beating Sa'id bin Zayd R mercilessly. 'Umar bin Khattab also hit his sister Fatimah bint Khattab R, when she tried to save her husband Sa'id bin Zayd R. He wanted toforce both of them to quit their newly accepted religion of Islam, to return to the age-old religion of ignorance that their ancestors practiced for so long.
His merciless thrashing did not yield any results and both remained steadfast. When 'Umar bin Khattab got tired of beating them, better sense prevailed upon him after seeing them bleeding. A sense of guilt over took him. Then he remembered the strange versed he had heard prior to entering their house.

Out of curiosity, he asked them to recite the same verses back to him, which he heard while entering their house. Sa'id bin Zayd R and Fatimah bint Khattab R recited those beautiful verses from the Qur-an again. Its 14th Ayah (Verse) resulted in a total change of heart of 'Umar bin Khattab R.
He was awed by the power and truth in the words of Allah (God).

"Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) for My Remembrance.
Surah (Chapter) Ta-Ha The Qur-an 20:14

'Umar bin Khattab R went straight to Dar Arqam (House of Arqam R), where the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was temporarily staying with his Sahabah (Companions) and converted to Islam immediately.

Sa'id bin Zayd R and his wife Fatimah bint Khattab R were instrumental in the conversion of 'Umar bin Khattab R who became one of the greatest followers of Islam.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S used to pray to Allah (God) for causing change of heart of either one of the two big enemies of Islam, 'Umar bin Khattab or Abu Jahl bin Hisham. He wanted either of them to accept Islam and become a Muslim. Allah (God) answered his prayers by sending 'Umar bin Khattab R to the folds of Islam.

Sa'id bin Zayd R and his wife Fatimah bint Khattab R migrated to Madinah with other Muslims. They stayed with Rafa'ah bin 'Abdul Mandhar R, brother of Abu Lubabah R. Some time later, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S granted him a piece of land for building a house.

Sa'id bin Zayd R participated in all the battles fought for the cause of Islam, except the battle of Badr because the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S had sent him and Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah R on a reconnaissance mission a few days before it. Muslim army had just returned to Madinah after achieving victory at Badr in their first battle with the Quraysh, who greatly outnumbered Muslims; when these two Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) also returned from their mission.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S gave them their share in Mal Ghanimah (War Trophies) and told them that they would also get rewarded for Jihad (Striving for the Cause of Allah).

Sa'id bin Zayd R rode with the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S as a commanding officer of a battalion of the victorious Muslim army that conquered Makkah without any bloodshed in the year 8H (Hijrah) (629 CE).

He had served under all four Khulafa" Rashidun (Rightly guided Caliphs) after the demise of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.

During the Khilafah (Tenure of a Caliph) of 'Umar bin Khattab R, he commanded the infantry battalions of the Muslim army during the initial battles in Sham (Syria). Sa'id bin Zayd R showed exemplary bravery in the battle of Ajnadayn where he commanded a unit.

He also participated in the battles for Damishq (Damascus) and Fahl. He killed the Roman governor of Hums. He was instrumental in the Muslim victory in the battle of Yarmuk.

Sa'id bin Zayd R had also briefly served as the 'Amil (Governor) of Damishq (Damascus), but he voluntarily resigned to participate in Jihad (Striving for the Cause of Allah) for Sham (Syria).

On his death-bed, the second Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims, 'Umar bin Khattab R, nominated a panel of prominent Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) to choose his successor. Because of their close relationship he did not nominate Sa'id bin Zayd R on it; although he was qualified to be included in that panel.

Sa'id bin Zayd R did not mind it at all and was among the first Muslims to do Ba'yh (Pledge Allegiance) to the newly elected Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims, 'Uthman bin 'Affan R.

Sa'id bin Zayd R was in Kufah when 'Uthman bin 'Affan R was martyred. He was disgusted by the events that followed the Shahadah (Martyrdom) of 'Uthman bin 'Affan R. He withdrew himself from active life and did not participate either in the battle of Jamal or Saffayn. He spent his life in prayers living in a quite suburb of Madinah.

Sa'id bin Zayd R greatly respected the fourth Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims, 'Ali bin Abu Talib R, to whom he had also pledged his allegiance.

Sa'id bin Zayd R died in Madinah in the year 50 or 51H (Hijrah) (670-671 CE) on a Friday. Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas R gave him the final bath and 'Abdullah bin 'Umar R lead his Janazah Salah (Funeral Prayers).

Sa'id bin Zayd R narrated 48 Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad S).

'Atikah bint Zayd R , the sister of Sa'id bin Zayd R was married to 'Abdullah bin Abu Bakr R. After his death, 'Umar bin Khattab R married her. When 'Umar bin Khattab R achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom), Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R married her who also achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom).