Islamic Leadership Qualities of Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA)

In the annals of history, certain figures emerge who, through their own lives, leave behind unparalleled examples of true leadership, embodying the finest Islamic leadership qualities of integrity and sacrifice. One such great leader was Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA). He was a governor whose poverty was a mark of honor, and whose leadership was illuminated by the light of Taqwa (God-consciousness). Therefore, today we will delve into a true story from his life that reveals the character, heart-wrenching poverty, and boundless fear of Allah of a just and righteous ruler. Consequently, let us read this inspiring account and strive to embody his ideals in our own lives.

A delegation once arrived at the Caliph’s court, having traveled from the city of Hims. Soon, a lively discussion began about the various conditions of the city. The Caliph would ask questions, and they would answer. At times, the delegation would present a problem, and in turn, the Caliph would offer a fair solution. In this way, a significant amount of time passed.

The Governor’s Name on the List of the Poor

As the discussion was drawing to a close, the delegation was about to depart. At that moment, the Commander of the Faithful, Hadrat Umar (RA), addressed them, saying, “Prepare a list of the destitute, poor, and helpless people of Hims for me. I will grant them aid from the Bayt al-Mal (the public treasury).”

Following his request, they prepared the list and presented it at the court of Hadrat Umar (RA). To everyone’s surprise, included in this list was the name of the governor of Hims, Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA).

As Umar (RA) took the list and began to read, his eyes suddenly froze on one spot. He saw that the name of Sa’id ibn Amir (RA) was also on the list. Consequently, in a tone of sheer astonishment, he asked, “What is this? I see Sa’id’s name here. Which Sa’id is this?”

They replied, “Our beloved governor, Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA). We had to write his name along with the other poor people.”

“Why? Is your governor poor? Is he destitute?” Hadrat Umar (RA) asked, his voice filled with boundless surprise.

“Indeed, he is poor and destitute. There are very few people in Hims as poor as he is. In fact, for several days in a row, his family faces a situation where there is nothing to cook in the pot.”

Upon hearing this, tears immediately welled up in the eyes of Hadrat Umar (RA). He sat in silence for a while, deeply moved by this revelation. This profound emotional response from the Caliph himself was a testament to his own understanding of true Islamic leadership qualities, where the ruler feels the pain of his people.

A Thousand Gold Coins from the Caliph

At that moment, a pin-drop silence fell over the Caliph’s court. No one spoke; all eyes were fixed on the Caliph’s face. However, the Caliph himself broke the silence. After composing himself, he handed a bag to the delegation and said in a tear-filled voice, “Take this bag. It contains one thousand gold coins. Give it to the governor and tell him to use this to manage his days without hardship.”

The delegation promptly returned to Hims and delivered the one thousand gold coins from the Caliph to Governor Sa’id ibn Amir.

The Governor’s Distress Over the Gold Coins

However, receiving the bag of gold left Hadrat Sa’id (RA) deeply distressed and restless. He immediately recited, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return)—a phrase that revealed the anguish of his heart, which was detached from worldly matters.

Consequently, witnessing this, his wife asked, “My dear, you seem very troubled today. Why are you in so much pain? Did something happen? You keep reciting ‘Inna lillahi…’ Has the Commander of the Faithful passed away?”

In response, Hadrat Sa’id (RA) replied, “No, the Commander of the Faithful has not passed away. But the calamity I face is far greater than that.”

“Could you please tell me about this calamity you are facing?” she asked with concern.

“Yes, I will. I must. In fact, I came here specifically to tell you.”

“Then please don’t delay,” she urged. “I can’t bear it any longer.”

“Listen carefully. A short while ago, a bag containing one thousand gold coins from the Caliph came into my possession. Considering the great stature of the Caliph, I could not send it back. My dear, you know that I have no love for worldly wealth. Thus, these gold coins are the root of my distress.”

The Wife’s Counsel and the Donated Wealth

To be sure, the wife was already aware of her husband’s selfless heart. However, now hearing these words from his own mouth, her respect for him grew a hundredfold! Her immediate and selfless counsel was a beautiful reflection of the supportive environment that nurtures Islamic leadership qualities.

Seeing his pain, the wife said, “My dearest, there is no need to be distressed. Simply distribute it all among the poor Muslims.”

“Are you in agreement with this?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied without hesitation.

“You won’t feel sad thinking that we received some help in our time of great need, but couldn’t keep it for ourselves?”

“Please, never think of me that way,” she assured him. “I welcome your sentiment with great joy.”

As a result, Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA) was overjoyed by his wife’s words and offered his gratitude to Allah, the Most High. He thought to himself, “Oh, Merciful Lord! You have blessed me with a wife who not only values my wishes but also deeply respects them.” Then, the couple together distributed every single one of the thousand gold coins among the poor Muslims.

Testing Islamic Leadership Qualities: The Three Complaints

Quite some time after this incident, Hadrat Umar (RA) himself visited Hims to observe the condition of its people. Naturally, the residents of Hims were overjoyed to see the Caliph. Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of him, and people flocked from all directions. The Caliph met with them personally, inquiring about their well-being and their problems. Then, after a long while, he addressed the people of Hims, “So, tell me, how do you find your governor, Sa’id ibn Amir?”

In reply, they said, “He is a very good man. There are few as good as him. However, we have three complaints against him.”

The Allegations and the Governor’s Response

To resolve the matter, Hadrat Umar (RA) gathered Governor Sa’id (RA) and the people of Hims and said, “Now, tell me, what are your complaints against the governor?”

They said, “Our first complaint against the governor is this: ‘He arrives at his office a little late every day.'”

The Commander of the Faithful, Hadrat Umar (RA), looked at Governor Sa’id with questioning eyes. His gaze seemed to say, “Sa’id! Refute the allegation made against you.”

In his defense, Hadrat Sa’id (RA) stood up and said, “Commander of the Faithful! I swear by God, I feel ashamed to answer this complaint. But for your information and that of the people of Hims, I must say that I have no servant at home, nor can I afford one. Therefore, I have to assist my wife with various household chores, including kneading the dough to make bread. This causes me to be slightly late for the office.”

Next, Umar (RA) addressed the people of Hims, “Present your second complaint.”

They said, “Our second complaint is, ‘The governor does not respond to anyone’s call at night.'”

In response to this, Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA) said, “I am reluctant to explain why I do not answer anyone’s call at night. For this reason, no one in the city of Hims knows the answer. But since I have no choice but to speak today, I am compelled to do so. O Caliph of the Muslims! I have divided my day and night into two parts. The first part, the entire day, I have dedicated to the service of the people. In contrast, the second part, the night, I have reserved exclusively for my great Creator, Allah. This clear division of his time was a practical application of core Islamic leadership qualities: absolute accountability to God and unwavering service to the people. For this reason, it is not possible for me to turn away from the presence of the Almighty Allah at night to answer someone else’s call.”

Finally, Umar (RA) said to the people of Hims, “Tell me, what other complaints do you have?”

They said, “Our third and final complaint is, ‘The governor does not meet with anyone on a specific day of the month.'”

Umar (RA) asked, “Sa’id! What is your statement on this matter?”

Sa’id (RA) replied, “It is also against my wish to reveal this. Nevertheless, I must say that I have no servant to wash my clothes. The garment you see me wearing now is the only one I own. Therefore, one day a month, I wash this garment and wait for it to dry. Once the cloth is dry, I come out to meet people in the latter part of the day. That is why it is not possible for me to come to the office during office hours on that particular day.”

After hearing these explanations, not only was the misunderstanding of the people of Hims cleared, but their heads also bowed in reverence for such a devoted governor. Indeed, their love and affection for him grew manifold. And the Commander of the Faithful, Umar (RA), exclaimed, “All praise is for Allah, who did not prove our good opinion of Sa’id to be wrong.”

A very small thing obtained with the fear of God is better than a treasure trove gained by hurting another’s heart.

Prophet Sulaiman (AS)

The Essence of Islamic Leadership Qualities: A Conclusion

Ultimately, this was a small chapter from the life of a righteous ruler—where there was power, but no greed; there was honor, but no arrogance. Indeed, the life story of Hadrat Sa’id ibn Amir (RA) is not just history; it is a living ideal for every Muslim.

Therefore, standing in today’s consumerist and materialistic society, if we can follow even a small part of the life of this Companion, our personal lives, our society, and our nations can all return to the path of light. May Allah grant us all the Tawfiq (divine ability) to do so.

Ameen.