He went on to say, “The man did not die until he had gone blind; he would grope along the walls, was driven to such poverty that he begged, lived to witness the fitnah (civil strife) of al-Mukhtār, and was killed in it.” (1)

ʿAmr ibn Marzūq reported: Shuʿbah narrated to us, from Saʿd ibn Ibrāhīm, from Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib, who said:

A slave-girl belonging to Saʿd once came out wearing a new tunic. A gust of wind lifted it, so ʿUmar struck her with a whip. Saʿd stepped forward to stop him, and ʿUmar struck him with the same whip. Saʿd walked away intending to invoke a curse upon ʿUmar, but ʿUmar handed him the whip and said, “Take your retaliation.” Saʿd, however, forgave him. (2)

Asad ibn Mūsā reported: Yaḥyā ibn Zakarīyā narrated to us, from Ismāʿīl, from Qays, who said:

Ibn Masʿūd was owed some money by Saʿd. He said to him, “Settle the debt.” Saʿd replied, “Woe to you! What business is there between you and me?” Ibn Masʿūd repeated, “Pay the money you owe.” Saʿd retorted, “By Allah, I foresee trouble coming to you from me. What are you but the son of Masʿūd, the client of Banū Hudhayl?” Ibn Masʿūd shot back, “Indeed, by Allah—and you are the son of Ḥamnah!”

Hāshim ibn ʿUtbah intervened, saying, “You are both Companions of the Messenger of Allah, and the people are watching you.” Saʿd then threw down the stick he was holding, raised his hands, and said, “O Allah, Lord of the heavens!” ʿAbd Allāh said to him, “Speak words, but do not curse.” Saʿd fell silent for a moment and then declared, “By Allah, were it not for fear of Allah I would have called down upon you a supplication that would never miss you.” (3)