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PERSON WHO WRONGED SA'AD, SON OF ABI WAKKAS

1541

“The people of Kufa complained to Omar about their Governor Sa'ad the son of Abi Wakkas alleging that he did not lead them in prayer correctly, so Omar Farooq appointed Ammar to be the Governor of Kufa.

Omar summoned Sa'ad to Medina and said, ‘Abu Ishaq, they have complained that you did not conduct the prayer correctly.’ Sa'ad replied, ‘I conducted the prayers according to the way of the Holy Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, without any detraction. For example, in the night prayer I make the first two units of prayer (raka's) long and the last two short. Omar said, ‘It is just as I thought, Abu Ishaq.’ So he sent a man or perhaps some men with him to Kufa to inquire more about him from its people.

In each mosque an inquiry was made and they all praised Sa’ad; but in the mosque of Bani 'Abs a man stood up whose name was Osama, son of Katadah who was also known as Abu Sa'ad, and said, ‘Now that we have been asked, I must tell you that Sa'ad did not accompany any expedition, neither did he distribute the spoils equally nor did he judge fairly.’ Upon hearing this Sa'ad said, ‘I shall make three supplications concerning him: O Allah, if this worshiper of Yours has lied seeking ostentation and fame, prolong his days and lengthen his time of adversity and afflict him with trials. After this supplication whenever the man was asked about his condition he would reply, ‘I am an old man, afflicted with trials, overtaken by the supplication of Sa'ad.’"

The narrator commented:

I saw this man when he was old, his eyebrows drooped over his eyes and he roamed the streets interfering with the passage of girls and winking at them.

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Jabir the son of Samurah who related this.