The people of Kufa complained to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb about their governor Sa‘d. He dismissed him and appointed ‘Ammār as their governor

Explanation

The Commander of the Believers ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqās (may Allah be pleased with him) as the governor of Kufa, but its people complained to ‘Umar about Sa‘d. They lodged many complaints against Sa‘d and even alleged that Sa‘d did not know how to perform the prayers properly, despite the fact that he was a revered Companion of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and one of the ten who were promised Paradise. Accordingly, ‘Umar sent for Sa‘d and told him that the people of Kufa filed many complaints against him and that they even claimed that he did not pray properly. Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) replied that he used to perform the prayer with them exactly as he learnt it from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) i.e. prolonging the first two Rak‘ahs of the ‘Ishā' prayer and shortening the last two. He mentioned the ‘Ishā' prayer, most likely because it was specifically mentioned by the complainers. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) commended Sa‘d and praised him saying: "That is what I thought of you, O Abu Is'hāq.” In other words ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) confirmed that Sa‘d was trustworthy, and that he was sure that he used to lead the people in prayer and perform it exactly as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Nevertheless, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) investigated the issue by sending men to the people of Kufa in order to inquire about Sa‘d and how he used to carry out his duties, because he knew well that he was responsible as a ruler of all Muslims. Those men went there and did not leave any mosque without asking about Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him). All the people praised him till they came to the mosque of the tribe of Banu ‘Abs. When they asked the people there, a man stood up and said: "Since you asked; I am bound to tell you that Sa‘d never personally marched in Jihad, nor did he ever divide the spoils of war fairly, nor was he ever fair in judging between people!" The man made three serious accusations against Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) who decided to make three invocations against that man. He asked Allah, the Exalted, to prolong the life of that man, make him poverty stricken throughout the course of his life, and afflict him with trials. Nevertheless, before making these invocations, Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “If this slave of Yours is a liar and got up for showing off and speaking boastfully.” Allah, the Exalted, answered the supplication and that man lived long until his eyebrows became shaggy and fell over his eyelids, because of old age, and suffered poverty as well as trials. Despite his old age, he used to wink at the young girls as they pass by in the roads. This man also used to tell people that he was an old man subjected to trials because of Sa‘d’s invocation.

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