The World Needs Leaders Like Sa'id bin Amir

Leadership

His full name was Sa'id bin 'Amir bin Hudhaym b. Salaman b.  Rabi'a b. Sa'd b. Jumah b. 'Amr b. Husays b. Ka'b. His father was Amir bin Hudhaym and his mother was Arwa bint Abi Mu'yat of Banu Umayya. He had two siblings, Fatima bint Amir and Jamil bin Amir. Sa’id ibn Amir al-Jumahi was one of thousands of pagans who left for the region of Tanim on the
outskirts of Makkah to witness the killing of Khubayb ibn Adiy, a Sahabi.

Sa’id ibn Aamir came close to khubayb and he heard Khubayb's quiet voice as he said "If only you would, leave me to pray two rakaats before my death." Sa’id looked at Khubayb as he faced the Kabah and prayed. 

Khubayb was asked, "Would you like Muhammad to be in your place while you go free?" and he replied. "By ALLAH, I would not want to be safe and secure among my family while even a thorn hurts Muhammad." 

Sa’id watched Khubayb lift his eyes to the heavens above the wooden cross as he said, "Count them all, O Lord, Destroy them and let not a single one escape."

Henceforth, Khubayb was never absent from the thoughts of Sa’id who was now approaching manhood. In his dreams, Sa’id would see Khubayb in front of him praying his two raka’at before the wooden cross. He would hear the reverberation of Khubayb's voice as he prayed for the punishment of the Quraysh and he would become afraid. Khubayb, by his death, had taught Sa’id that real life was faith, conviction and struggle in the path of faith until death. He also taught him that the man who is loved by his companions with such a love as Khubayb's could only be a prophet with Divine support.

Rad the seerah of Khubaib ibn Adiy here https://towardsdalight.blogspot.com/2019/11/khubaib-ibn-adiy-hero-on-cross.html

Sa’id's heart opened to Islam. He stood up in the assembly of the Quraysh and renounced their idols. Sa’id ibn Amir migrated to Madinah and attached himself to the Prophet (SAW) and took part in several battles. 

After the Prophet (SAW) passed away, Sa’id continued active service under his two successors; Abu Bakr and Umar. Both Abu Bakr and Umar knew Sa’id well for his honesty and piety.

Sa’id once came to Umar at the beginning of his caliphate and said. "I advise you to fear ALLAH in dealing with people and do not fear people in your relationship with ALLAH. Let not your actions deviate from your words for the best of speech is that which it confirmed by action. Consider those who have been appointed over the affairs of Muslims, far and near. Like for them what you like for yourself and your family and dislike for them what you would dislike for yourself and your family. Surmount any obstacles to attain the truth and do not fear the criticisms of those who criticize in matters prescribed by ALLAH".

Umar asked, "Who can measure up to this, Sa’id?". Said replied, "A man like you from among those whom ALLAH has appointed over the affairs of the Ummah of Muhammad and who feels responsible to ALLAH alone". Umar said, "Sa’id, I appoint you to be governor of Homs (in Syria)". Sa’id pleaded "Umar, I entreat you by ALLAH, do not cause me to go astray by making me concerned with worldly affairs.” Sa’id was pressured into accepting it.

Umar offered him a gratuity and he refused to take it. After that, he proceeded to Homs. Not long afterwards, a delegation from Homs came to visit Umar in Madinah. He requested them to write the names of the poor among them so he could relieve their needs. They prepared a list for him in which the name Sa’id ibn Aamir appeared.

Umar asked, "Who is this Sa’id ibn Aamir?" "Our amir", they replied. "Your amir is poor?" said Umar, puzzled. They affirmed, "By ALLAH, several days go by without a fire being lit in his house." Umar wept. Umar got a thousand dinars and sent it to Sa’id.

The delegation came to Sa’id with the money. When he saw the money, he began to push it away from himself. "From ALLAH we are and to Him we shall certainly return." He said it as if some misfortune had descended on him. His alarmed wife hurried to him and asked, "What's the matter, Sa’id? Has the Khalifah died?” Sa’id said, "Something greater than that." His wife asked again, "Have the Muslims been defeated in a battle?" Sa’id said again, "Something greater than that. The world has come upon me to corrupt my hereafter and create disorder in my house." Not knowing anything about the money, she said, "Then get rid of it". He asked her, "Will you help me in this?” She agreed.

Sa’id took the dinars, put them in bags and distributed them to the poor people in the community. When Umar went to Syria to inspect, he visited Homs and called for a meeting to ask the people what they thought of their Amir, Sa’id. The people laid their complains right in the presence of Sa’id bin Amir.

The First Complain ("He only comes out to us when the sun is already high")

Umar asked Sa’id, "What do you have to say to that?” Sa’id was silent for a moment, and then he said, "By ALLAH, I really didn't want to say this but there seems to be no way out. My family does not have a house help so I get up every morning and prepare dough for bread. I wait a little until it rises and then bake for my family. I then make wudu and go out to the people."

The Second complain ("He does not answer anyone at night")

To this Sa’id said, "By ALLAH, I really wouldn't have liked to disclose this also but, I have left the day for them and the night for ALLAH".

The Third complain ("He does not come out to us for one day in every month")

To this Sa’id replied, "I do not have a house help, O Amir al-Mumineen and I do not have any clothes except what's on me. This, I wash once a month and I wait for it to dry. Then I go out in the later part of the day."

The Fourth complain ("From time to time, he faints in meetings")

To this Sa’id replied, "I witnessed the killing of Khubayb ibn Adiy when I was a pagan. By ALLAH, whenever I remember that day and how I failed to come to his aid, I only think that ALLAH would never forgive me and I faint."

Thereupon Umar said, "Praise be to ALLAH. My impression of him has not been tainted." He later sent a thousand dinars to Sa’id to help him out. 

When his wife saw the amount she said. "Praise be to ALLAH Who has enriched us out of your service. Buy some provisions for us and get us a house help."

Sa’id asked his wife, "Is there any way of spending it better? Let us spend it on whoever comes to us and we would get something better for it by dedicating it to ALLAH." "That will be better" she agreed. Sa’id put the dinars into small bags and said to a member of his family, "Take this to the widow of so and so, and the orphans of that person, to the needy in that family and to the indigent of the family of that person." Again, he didn’t spend a dime of the money on himself.

Sa’id bin Amir was not reported to have had any children, he passed away in 20 AH in Homs in Syria, and he died of natural causes. May Allah be pleased with him.

LESSONS

1. The Advice: The words of wisdom given by Sa’id bin Amir to Umar bin Khattab shows that leaders should always be welcoming of advice irrespective of the status of the adviser. Sa’id bin Amir was not among the most prominent Sahaba yet, his words were not pushed aside.
2. Care of a leader: Sa’id put the needs of the people above his own desires, he preferred for them to have when he didn’t.
3. Leadership is not a business: The governor of an entire state didn’t even have a house help, he prepared food for his family and had only one piece of clothing. All leaders don’t have to live like this but, they must see leadership as a trust that will raise many questions on the Day of Judgement.