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Sa'id ibn Jubayr was a brilliant scholar and one of the greatest of the Tabi'een—the generation following the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.

He was born in Africa and raised with a deep love for knowledge.

He was a student of Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), the esteemed cousin of the Prophet ﷺ and a master of Qur'anic exegesis.

He also learned from luminaries like Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Abdullah ibn Umar (RA).

Over time, Sa'id became known for his profound understanding of the Qur'an and unwavering dedication to justice.

His reputation as a scholar and devout believer grew, but his faith was tested during one of the most tumultuous periods in Islamic history—when the tyrannical governor, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, wreaked havoc across the Muslim world.

A Time of Turmoil

Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf was notorious for his cruelty and ruthlessness.

His reign was marked by oppression and bloodshed.

When he was sent to crush the rebellion of Abdullah ibn Zubair (RA), who had established a rival caliphate in Mecca, Al-Hajjaj surrounded Mecca and laid siege to it for six months.

He cut off food and water supplies to the city, leading to a humanitarian disaster.

Al-Hajjaj ordered the use of catapults to bombard Mecca, damaging the Kaaba itself.

After defeating Abdullah ibn Zubair (RA), one of the Prophet's ﷺ companions, Hajjaj had his body hung outside the Kaaba as a grim warning to anyone who opposed the Umayyad rule.

He cared little for sacred spaces or the lives of the innocent, using his power to crush anyone who dared challenge him.

Amid this chaos, Sa'id ibn Jubayr emerged as a beacon of truth and knowledge.

Knowing that his influence might one day bring him into conflict with Hajjaj, Sa'id spent ten years isolated, teaching and guiding the people in a small village near Mecca.

His wisdom and piety made him a figure of hope, and soon Hajjaj took notice.

The Confrontation with Tyranny

Hajjaj sent his forces to arrest Sa'id, viewing him as a threat to his authority.

When they came to take him, Sa'id's daughter wept in fear, but he comforted her with words of faith: "Our meeting will be in Paradise."

Brought before Hajjaj, Sa'id faced the tyrant with unwavering courage.

Hajjaj, in his arrogance, tried to belittle him, saying, "You are the wretched one, son of the broken."

But Sa'id, ever dignified, replied, "My mother knows my name better than you."

His name, "The chosen son or the one who fixes," was a testament to his integrity and strength.

Hajjaj, furious at Sa'id's composure, asked, "How do you wish to die?"

Sa'id replied calmly, "You hold no power over me except what Allah has already decreed."

In his rage, Hajjaj declared, "I will be the last person you see before you die."

Sa'id replied, "Then so be it. But I make this supplication: that I be the last person you unjustly kill."

Hajjaj, laughing, responded, "I’ve killed better men than you. What makes you think you’re any different?"

Sa'id answered plainly, "Yes, they were better than me. They forgave you. I will not."

The Power of a Righteous Prayer

Sa'id was executed, becoming a martyr who stood firm in the face of injustice.

But Sa'id, even in his final moments, displayed a relaxed composure.

When asked why he was smiling at his execution, he replied, "I am amazed at your arrogance before Allah. You act as though you are a deity on earth, but you are merely a tool in Allah's plan."

Sa'id death was a tremendous loss to the Ummah.

Scholars of his time grieved, saying, "With his death, knowledge has been buried in the earth—knowledge that every living being is in need of."

But Sa'id’s story didn’t end there.

Within days of his execution, Hajjaj fell gravely ill.

His body began to wither, and visions of Sa'id haunted his nights.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sa'id pulling at him, tormenting him.

He couldn’t find peace or rest.

Fifteen days later, Hajjaj died in agony.

Sa'id’s supplication had been answered—he was indeed the last person that Hajjaj would kill.