Ibn Saʿd said: The Prophet ﷺ passed away when Saʿīd was nine years old, or thereabouts.
Because of his close kinship to ʿUthmān, he remained in the caliph’s inner circle. When ʿUthmān dismissed al-Walīd ibn ʿUqba from Kūfa, he appointed Saʿīd in his place. Saʿīd arrived there a pampered youth and treated its people harshly; he governed them for five years, save a few months.
The Kufans then rose against him, expelled him, and set Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī over themselves. Abū Mūsā refused to take office without the caliph’s leave; instead, he renewed their pledge of allegiance to ʿUthmān, whereupon ʿUthmān officially installed him as their governor.
On the Day of the House Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ was among those who fought in defense of ʿUthmān.
When Ṭalḥa and al-Zubayr marched out and camped at Marr al-Ẓahrān, Saʿīd rose to address the people and said:
“Now then: ʿUthmān lived honorably and departed, sorely missed, as a martyr. You claim that you have come out to seek retribution for his blood. If that is truly your purpose, then his killers are riding these mounts—so turn against them.”
Marwān said, “No; rather, let us set some of them against the others.”
Al-Mughīra replied, “The sound opinion is what Saʿīd has stated.”
He (al-Mughīra) then proceeded to al-Ṭāʾif, while Saʿīd withdrew with those who followed him to Mecca, remaining there until the battles of the Camel and Ṣiffīn had run their course (1).
Qabīṣa ibn Jābir related: They asked Muʿāwiya, “Whom do you see fit for leadership after you?” He said, “As for the noble of Quraysh, it is Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ …,” and he mentioned others as well (2).
Ibn Saʿd reports: ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad narrated to us, from Yazīd ibn ʿIyāḍ, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Bakr ibn Ḥazm, who said:
Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ sought the hand of Umm Kulthūm, daughter of ʿAlī, after the death of ʿUmar, and he sent her one hundred thousand (dirhams). Her brother al-Ḥusayn entered upon her and said, “Do not marry him.”
Al-Ḥasan said, “I will marry her to him.”
They agreed on a time for the marriage and gathered for it.
Saʿīd asked, “Where is Abū ʿAbd Allāh?”
Al-Ḥasan replied, “I shall handle him for you.”
He (Saʿīd) said, “Perhaps Abū ʿAbd Allāh …”