The People of Kufa complained against Sa`d to `Umar and the latter dismissed him and appointed
`Ammar as their chief . They lodged many complaints against Sa`d and even they alleged that he did
not pray properly. `Umar sent for him and said, "O Aba 'Is-haq! These people claim that you do not
pray properly." Abu 'Is-haq said, "By Allah, I used to pray with them a prayer similar to that of Allah's
Apostle and I never reduced anything of it. I used to prolong the first two rak`at of `Isha prayer and
shorten the last two rak`at." `Umar said, "O Aba 'Is-haq, this was what I thought about you." And then
he sent one or more persons with him to Kufa so as to ask the people about him. So they went there
and did not leave any mosque without asking about him. All the people praised him till they came to
the mosque of the tribe of Bani `Abs; one of the men called Usama bin Qatada with a surname of Aba
Sa`da stood up and said, "As you have put us under an oath; I am bound to tell you that Sa`d never
went himself with the army and never distributed (the war booty) equally and never did justice in legal
verdicts." (On hearing it) Sa`d said, "I pray to Allah for three things: O Allah! If this slave of yours is
a liar and got up for showing off, give him a long life, increase his poverty and put him to trials." (And
so it happened). Later on when that person was asked how he was, he used to reply that he was an old
man in trial as the result of Sa`d's curse. `Abdul Malik, the sub narrator, said that he had seen him
afterwards and his eyebrows were overhanging his eyes owing to old age and he used to tease and
assault the small girls in the way.
Narrated by Narrated Jabir bin Samura:
Context
This hadith recounts the complaints of the people of Kufa against Sa`d, who was accused of not praying properly. `Umar, upon hearing this, sought confirmation from the people and found that many praised Sa`d's prayer. However, one individual raised concerns about Sa`d's leadership qualities. Sa`d then prayed for the individual who spoke against him, leading to a significant consequence in the latter's life.
Modern Application
In daily salah, the importance of sincerity and excellence in prayer is highlighted. This hadith reminds Muslims to strive for quality in their prayers and to be mindful of their actions and intentions, especially in leadership roles.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Justice because it addresses the quality of prayer and the implications of justice in leadership, as demonstrated through the actions of Sa`d.
[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed - to those who believed among them, "Do you [actually] know that Salih is sent from his Lord?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which he was sent, are believers."