Qays ibn Sa'd

Qays ibn Sa'd قيس بن سعد
Governor of Egypt
In office 657–657 (6 months)
Preceded by	Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa
Succeeded by	Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr then Malik al-Ashtar
Personal details
Born	Medina
Died	59 AH (678–679 CE) Medina
Parents	Sa'd ibn Ubadah (father) Fukayha bint Ubayd ibn Dulaym (mother)
Military service
Battles/wars	First Fitna (656–661) Battle of the Camel (656) Battle of Siffin (657) Battle of Nahrawan (658) Second Syria campaign of Ali (659–661)

Qays ibn Saʿd (Arabic: قيس بن سعد) was a prominent leader of the Rashidun Muslim army, known for his defensive tactics. He was one of the companions (Sahabi) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and later supported Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Birth and early life

Qays ibn Sa'd was born in Medina during the time of Muhammad. His father was Sa'd ibn Ubadah, leader of the Khazraj tribe. Before converting to Islam, Qays was described as intelligent and strategic but was reputed to use his wit in self-serving ways. According to Khalid Muhammad Khalid, he was known for outsmarting others in Medina and its surroundings prior to accepting Islam.

Conversion to Islam

After his father embraced Islam, Sa'd introduced Qays to Muhammad and pledged his son's service to him. Muhammad reportedly expressed approval and gave Qays a place among his companions. Following his conversion, Qays was said to have reformed his conduct and devoted himself to Islamic principles. He later stated, "If it were not for Islam, I would have used my craftiness to outwit all the Arabs," indicating a personal transformation guided by faith.

Title

Qays was given the title al-Ansari (الأنصاري), meaning “the helper” or “supporter.”

Characteristics

Qays belonged to a family noted for generosity, a quality also attributed to him by contemporary and later sources. Muhammad is reported to have said, "Generosity is the dominant trait of this family." Khalid relates that Qays was exceptionally charitable and often lent money without seeking repayment, reflecting both his family tradition and his personal values. Despite his youth, his generosity was so extensive that Abu Bakr and Umar reportedly cautioned that it might deplete his father’s wealth, to which Sa'd ibn Ubadah replied that he would not raise his son to be miserly. Physically, he was said to lack a traditional Arab beard, a feature for which the Ansar jokingly teased him.

Governor of Egypt

Ali, the fourth caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, appointed Qays ibn Sa'd as governor of Egypt. According to Wilferd Madelung, this appointment was viewed as an act of reconciliation toward the Ansar and was perceived by the Quraysh opposition as a sign that Ali sought to limit their political dominance. Qays arrived in Fustat with only a few companions, read Ali’s appointment letter publicly, and secured allegiance from the Egyptian population. He maintained relative peace in the province by avoiding confrontation with supporters of Uthman ibn Affan, allowing them to remain neutral and collect taxes under his supervision.

Military career

under Muhammad

Qays ibn Sa'd was known for his courage, bravery, and boldness in combat. He served as the standard-bearer of the Ansars during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad and participated in several of the Prophet’s military campaigns. During the Conquest of Mecca, the Prophet took the banner from Qays’s father, Sa'd ibn Ubadah, and handed it to Qays himself, recognizing his strength and valor as a warrior.

Shurta al-Khamis

Qays commanded the Shurta al-Khamis, a 40,000-strong unit loyal to Ali, active primarily in Iraq.

Battle of Siffin

Qays fought for Ali at the Battle of Siffin against Mu'awiya. He led a contingent of foot soldiers from Basra numbering over 10,000 men. While he initially planned strategic maneuvers against Mu'awiya’s forces, he later abandoned certain deceptive tactics, citing religious principles.

Later life and death

Following Ali’s death, Qays continued to be regarded as a senior member of the Ansar in Medina. According to Sulaym ibn Qays, he later met Mu'awiya during the latter’s pilgrimage to Mecca after the peace treaty with Hasan. Qays died in 59 AH (678–679 CE) in Medina.

See also

• Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Hasan ibn Ali
• Sa'd ibn Ubadah
• List of Sahabah that did not give Bay'ah to Abu Bakr
• Sulaym ibn Qays

Bibliography

• Wilferd Madelung (1998). The Succession to Muḥammad: A Study of The Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521646963.
• Muhammad Khali Khalid and Khalid Muhammad Khalid (2005). Men Around The Messenger. Islamic Book Trust. ISBN 978-9839154733.
• Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib. Nahjul Balagha: Peak of Eloquence. ISBN 978-0940368422.
• Carl F. Petry, ed. (2008). The Cambridge History of Egypt. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521068857.
• Michael G. Morony (2006). Iraq after the Muslim Conquest. Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1593333157.
• Radi Aal-Yasin (2013). Sulh al-Hasan: The Peace Treaty of al-Hasan. Ahlulbayt Organization. ISBN 978-1494438135.