community is Abu ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrah.”

The commander he placed over Persia was Saʿd ibn Abi Waqqas, whose supplications were unfailingly answered. He was among the most ascetic of men and the last remaining member of the consultative council. While people contended over the leadership, he withdrew to his residence in al-ʿAqiq, pushing no one aside.

His son ʿUmar said to him, “You have left the people to quarrel over power while you sit here!”

He replied, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: ‘Allah loves the servant who is devout, self-sufficient, pure, and inconspicuous.’”