سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الْجُمَحِيّ
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Sa'id ibn Aamir al-Jumahi
Governor of Homs · Lived as though he governed nothing · Explained himself plainly to Umar
may Allah be pleased with him
Of Banu Jumah, of Quraysh · Makkah, Madinah and Homs in Syria, across the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime and Umar's caliphate
Appointed by Umar over Homs, he governed with a simplicity that puzzled the people he led. When they brought their complaints to Umar, each one turned out to have a plain and unremarkable explanation.
Known for
Before he accepted Islam, he witnessed the execution of Khubayb ibn al-Adi in Makkah, and the memory affected him for the rest of his life
He was appointed by Umar as governor over Homs
He was known for the plainness of his life even while he governed
He is reported to have declined to enrich himself from his position, living much as he had before it.
The people of Homs brought complaints about him to Umar, and each one had a plain explanation once Sa'id spoke
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Before Homs
Sa'id ibn Aamir was of Banu Jumah, a clan of Quraysh. Before he himself accepted Islam, he is reported to have been present in Makkah when Khubayb ibn al-Adi was executed there — a memory that stayed with him for the rest of his life.
He accepted Islam at some point before the conquest of Makkah; the sources do not fix the year closely.
Homs
Umar appointed him governor over Homs, in Syria, and he governed it living as plainly as he had before he held the post, declining to draw on it for his own comfort.
The people of Homs eventually brought a set of complaints about him to Umar. Once Sa'id explained himself, each complaint turned out to rest on his own austerity rather than any wrongdoing — the episode this record's moment describes.
The sources do not agree closely enough on the year of his death for one to be given here.
How the sources describe him
He lived as simply in office as he had before it
When Umar asked him directly about the complaints, he explained himself plainly rather than defending his reputation
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- Umar ibn al-KhattabCompanion
Umar appointed him governor of Homs and later questioned him directly about the complaints brought against him.
- Khubayb ibn al-AdiCompanion
He witnessed his execution in Makkah before he himself accepted Islam, and the memory affected him for the rest of his life.
Full timeline
- The sources do not agree on the exact year approximate, reports differAccounts of Khubayb's execution are generally placed a few years after the Hijrah, but the sources do not agree closely enough for a year to be fixed here relative to Sa'id's own life.
Witnesses the execution of Khubayb ibn al-Adi in Makkah, before his own acceptance of Islam
- Before the conquest of Makkah
Accepts Islam
- Umar's caliphate
Appointed governor of Homs by Umar
- Umar's caliphate
The people of Homs bring their complaints to Umar
- The sources do not agree approximate, reports differReports of his death year vary and do not converge on one date.
Dies
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Tarikh ar-Rusul wa'l-Mulukتاريخ الرسل والملوك
Classical history · Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
Companions of the Prophet
Modern biography · Abdul Wahid Hamid
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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