Introduction
Sa'id was the son of Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl, one of the few Arabs of Makkah who rejected idol worship before Islam and searched for the religion of Ibrahim. Sa'id grew up in that atmosphere and, with his wife Fatimah bint al-Khattab, the sister of Umar, he accepted Islam in the early years, before Umar himself did.
He is counted among the ten companions given the good news of Paradise in one narration. He was known for speaking up when it mattered. When a man in the mosque of Kufah spoke ill of another companion, Sa'id stood up and rebuked those present for letting the companions be abused. When a woman accused him of taking her land, he answered by recalling the Prophet's warning on seizing even a hand-span of land unjustly.
He lived through the reigns of the first caliphs and the civil strife after Uthman. He died around 50 AH at al-Aqiq outside Madinah, and was brought back to be buried in the city.
The story
Before the Hijrah
Son of Zayd ibn Amr, who left idol worship and searched for the true religion of Ibrahim.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3827Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ مُوسَى حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ تُحُدِّثَ بِهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ، يَسْأَلُ عَنِ الدِّينِ وَيَتْبَعُهُ فَلَقِيَ عَالِمًا مِنَ الْيَهُودِ، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ، فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَعَلِّي أَنْ أَدِينَ دِينَكُمْ، فَأَخْبِرْنِي. فَقَالَ لاَ تَكُونُ عَلَى دِينِنَا حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ بِنَصِيبِكَ …
“Zaid bin 'Amr bin Nufail went to Sham, inquiring about a true religion to follow”
Early Makkan period
Accepted Islam, and recalled that Umar had once tied him up over it before Umar himself became Muslim.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3862Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ، فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي وَإِنَّ عُمَرَ لَمُوثِقِي عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ عُمَرُ، وَلَوْ أَنَّ أُحُدًا ارْفَضَّ لِلَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ لَكَانَ مَحْقُوقًا أَنْ يَرْفَضَّ.
“I have seen myself tied and forced by `Umar to leave Islam before `Umar himself embraced Islam”
After Uthman's death
Spoke in the mosque of Kufah about the wrong done to Uthman, saying Uhud itself would have the right to move.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3862Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ، فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي وَإِنَّ عُمَرَ لَمُوثِقِي عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ عُمَرُ، وَلَوْ أَنَّ أُحُدًا ارْفَضَّ لِلَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ لَكَانَ مَحْقُوقًا أَنْ يَرْفَضَّ.
“if the mountain of Uhud could move from its place for the evil which you people have done to `Uthman”
c. 50-51 AH
Died near Madinah at al-Aqiq, and was buried in Madinah.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Sa'id ibn Zayd's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Fear of taking what is not yours
When Arwa accused him of taking part of her land, he answered that he could never do so, since he had heard the Prophet warn that whoever takes even a hand-span of land unjustly will have his neck wrapped with it down through seven earths. He used the hadith as a reason to stay clear of any wrongdoing.
Try this today
Check your own conscience before you defend yourself: if there is doubt, give the right back.
Sit with this
Is there anything in your hands that might belong to someone else?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3198Sahih … لَهَا إِلَى مَرْوَانَ، فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أَنْتَقِصُ مِنْ حَقِّهَا شَيْئًا، أَشْهَدُ لَسَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ أَخَذَ شِبْرًا مِنَ الأَرْضِ ظُلْمًا، فَإِنَّهُ يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ سَبْعِ أَرَضِينَ". قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه …
“If anyone takes a span of land unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down seven earths on the Day of Resurrection”
Defending the honour of fellow companions
In the mosque of Kufah he heard a man abusing Ali. Sa'id asked whether he could stand by while the companions of the Prophet were abused without anyone stopping it, and then reminded the audience of the Prophet's statement about the ten promised Paradise.
Try this today
Do not sit silently when good people are slandered in front of you.
Sit with this
Do you speak up when good people are slandered in front of you?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 4650Sahih … فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ يُقَالُ لَهُ قَيْسُ بْنُ عَلْقَمَةَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ فَسَبَّ وَسَبَّ فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ مَنْ يَسُبُّ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ قَالَ يَسُبُّ عَلِيًّا. قَالَ أَلاَ أَرَى أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسَبُّونَ عِنْدَكَ ثُمَّ لاَ تُنْكِرُ وَلاَ تُغَيِّرُ أَنَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ وَإِنِّي لَغَنِيٌّ أَنْ أَقُولَ عَلَيْهِ مَا …
“Don't I see that the companions of the Messenger of Allah are being abused, but you neither stop it nor do anything about it?”
Standing up against injustice, even when it is costly
In Kufah he took a young man's hand and told him that a ruler present was a tyrant, and that he could testify to nine men whom the Prophet had said would enter Paradise. He did not remain neutral about oppression.
Try this today
Speak the truth about injustice, with knowledge and with respect.
Sit with this
Where could you speak the truth about injustice, with knowledge and respect?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 4648Sahih … أَلاَ تَرَى إِلَى هَذَا الظَّالِمِ فَأَشْهَدُ عَلَى التِّسْعَةِ إِنَّهُمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَلَوْ شَهِدْتُ عَلَى الْعَاشِرِ لَمْ إِيثَمْ - قَالَ ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ وَالْعَرَبُ تَقُولُ آثَمْ - قُلْتُ وَمَنِ التِّسْعَةُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ عَلَى حِرَاءٍ " اثْبُتْ حِرَاءُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدٌ". قُلْتُ وَمَنِ التِّسْعَةُ …
“I bear witness to the nine people that they will go to Paradise”
Knowing and teaching the rule on self-defence
He narrated the Prophet's teaching that someone killed protecting his property, family, blood or religion is a martyr, which he passed on to others as part of the faith.
Try this today
Know your rights and limits in protecting yourself and those in your care.
Sit with this
Do you know your rights and limits in protecting those in your care?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 4772Sahih قَالَ: " مَنْ قُتِلَ دُونَ مَالِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ، وَمَنْ قُتِلَ دُونَ أَهْلِهِ أَوْ دُونَ دَمِهِ أَوْ دُونَ دِينِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ".
“He who is killed while protecting his property is a martyr, and he who is killed while defending his family, or his blood, or his religion is a martyr”
Reviving dead land
Sa'id narrated the Prophet's teaching that whoever brings barren land to life owns it, and that an unjust vein has no right. He preserved this rule on honest enterprise.
Try this today
Put effort into making something useful grow, and do not take from others unjustly.
Sit with this
What could you make grow, honestly, that others would benefit from?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 3073Sahih قَالَ " مَنْ أَحْيَا أَرْضًا مَيْتَةً فَهِيَ لَهُ وَلَيْسَ لِعِرْقٍ ظَالِمٍ حَقٌّ".
“If anyone brings barren land into cultivation, it belongs to him”
Natural remedy and trust in Allah
Sa'id reported the Prophet saying that truffles are like manna, and their water is a healing for the eyes, a reminder that provision and healing are from Allah.
Try this today
Take simple, permitted means of healing and recognise their source.
Sit with this
When you take a remedy, do you remember who sends the healing?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5708Sahih … بْنَ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ، وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ". قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَخْبَرَنِي الْحَكَمُ بْنُ عُتَيْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الْعُرَنِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ شُعْبَةُ لَمَّا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ الْحَكَمُ لَمْ أُنْكِرْهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ …
“Truffles are like Manna (i.e. they grow naturally without man's care) and their water heals eye diseases”
Virtues
The Prophet gave the glad tidings of Paradise to ten men in one narration, naming Sa'id ibn Zayd among them.
“Sa'eed bin Zaid is in Paradise”
Arabic text
… عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ. قَالَ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3747Sahih
Sa'id himself named the tenth when asked, swearing by what he heard from the Prophet.
“He is Sa'id ibn Zayd”
Arabic text
… وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَطَلْحَةُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَسَعْدُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ". وَلَوْ شِئْتَ لَسَمَّيْتُ الْعَاشِرَ. قَالَ فَقَالُوا مَنْ هُوَ فَسَكَتَ قَالَ فَقَالُوا مَنْ هُوَ فَقَالَ هُوَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ …
Sunan Abi Dawud 4649Sahih
Sayings and moments
Sa'id said that if Uhud were to move for the wrong done to Uthman, it would have the right to do so.
“if the mountain of Uhud could move from its place for the evil which you people have done to `Uthman”
Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ، فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي وَإِنَّ عُمَرَ لَمُوثِقِي عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ عُمَرُ، وَلَوْ أَنَّ أُحُدًا ارْفَضَّ لِلَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ لَكَانَ مَحْقُوقًا أَنْ يَرْفَضَّ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3862Sahih
Words on this page
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
Related companions
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
- عثمان بن عفانUthman ibn AffanUthman ibn Affan, third caliph and Dhu al-Nurayn: his modesty, open-handed giving, wudu, Quran and night-pray…
- عبد الرحمن بن عوفAbd al-Rahman ibn AwfA Makkan merchant who started with nothing in Madinah, built honest wealth and gave generously while fearing…
Sources and review
- Sa'id ibn Zayd (Wikipedia, dates only) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades checked via the sunnah.com-numbered Hadith API (fawazahmed0/hadith-api) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.