ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr related:

Qays ibn Saʿd sold a tract of land to Muʿāwiyah for ninety thousand. When he reached Madinah he had his herald announce, “Whoever is in need of a loan, let him come!” From that sum he lent out fifty thousand and released the remainder as a gift. Afterwards he fell ill, and those who came to visit him grew few. He said to his wife, Quraybah bint Abī ʿAtīq, sister of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, “I notice that the number of my visitors during this illness is small, and I believe it is because of the debts people owe me.” He therefore sent to every man who was in his debt, together with the note that recorded it, and granted each of them full remission. [It is also said that he ordered his herald to proclaim: “Whoever owes Qays ibn Saʿd a debt is henceforth absolved of it,” and before nightfall the threshold of his door was worn down by the multitude of visitors.] (1)

He would supplicate: “O Allah, grant me wealth and opportunities for noble deeds, for noble deeds are of no use without wealth.” (2)

Sufyān al-Thawrī said: A man once borrowed thirty thousand from Qays ibn Saʿd. When he came to repay it, Qays told him, “We are a people who, once we have given something to anyone, never take it back.”

Al-Haytham ibn ʿAdī reported: Three men disputed at the Kaʿbah as to who was the most generous person of their day. One said, “ʿAbd Allah ibn Jaʿfar.” Another said, “Qays ibn Saʿd.” The third said, “ʿArābah al-Awsī.” They argued until their voices grew loud beside the Kaʿbah. A man said to them, “Let each of you go to the one he claims is the most generous, see what he gives him, and judge by direct observation.”

The supporter of ʿAbd Allah ibn Jaʿfar went to him and found that he had already placed his foot in the g̱arz (3)—the riding stirrup—ready to depart for an estate of his. The man said, “O cousin of the Messenger of Allah! I am a wayfarer whose means have run out.” Ibn Jaʿfar withdrew his foot from the stirrup and said, “Put your foot here and mount; it—together with what is on it—is yours. Take what is in the saddlebag, and do not be deceived by the sword, for it is one of ʿAlī’s swords.” He returned to his companions with a splendid she-camel; in the bag were four thousand dinars, brocade cloaks, and other items, the finest of which was the sword of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with him).

The supporter of Qays ibn Saʿd then went to him and found him asleep. The maidservant asked, “What do you need from him?” He replied, “I am a wayfarer whose means have run out.” She said, “Your need is easier than waking him. Here is a purse containing seven hundred dinars—the only money in Qays’s house today. Go to our master at the maʿāṭin al-ibil (4)—the camel pens—take for yourself a she-camel and a slave, and depart under Allah’s blessing.” When Qays awoke, the maidservant informed him of what she had done; he set her free [in gratitude for her action] (5) and said, “Why did you not wake me so that I could give him enough? Perhaps what you gave him does not meet his need.”

The supporter of ʿArābah al-Awsī went to him and found that he had left his house for the prayer, leaning on two of his slaves—for he had lost his sight. The man said, “O ʿArābah!” ʿArābah replied, “Speak.” He said, “I am a wayfarer whose means have run out.” ʿArābah thereupon released the two slaves, clapped his right hand over his left, and said: