among the descendants of Qusayy—the father of ʿAmr ibn Saʿīd al-Ashdaq and of Yahyā; a Qurashī, an Umayyad, a Madinan, and an emir.

His father was killed as a polytheist on the Day of Badr, leaving Saʿīd a small child.

Abū Ḥātim said: “He is counted among the Companions.”

I say: He did not narrate directly from the Prophet ﷺ; rather, he transmitted from ʿUmar and ʿĀʾisha, and his narrations are few.

Those who reported from him include his two sons, ʿUrwa, and Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh.

He was a governor—distinguished, generous, praised, forbearing, dignified, firm-minded, and intelligent—fit for the caliphate.

He governed Medina on several occasions on behalf of Muʿāwiya, and had earlier been appointed over Kūfa by ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān.

He kept out of the civil strife, which was commendable, and did not fight alongside Muʿāwiya. When Muʿāwiya finally secured power, Saʿīd visited him; Muʿāwiya honoured him and rewarded him with abundant wealth.

While serving as governor of Kūfa he marched against Ṭabaristān and conquered it.

Concerning him al-Farazdaq said:

You see the eminent stalwarts of Quraysh,
when events, with all their twists, grow grave,
standing, their eyes fixed upon Saʿīd—
as though through him they behold a crescent’s blaze.