Jabir Ibn Samurah رضي الله عنه narrates: The people of Kufah complained to 'Umar رضي الله عنه about their governor, Sa'd رضي الله عنه. Consequently, 'Umar رضي الله عنه dismissed him and appointed 'Ammar رضي الله عنه as their leader.

They lodged a variety of complaints against Sa'd رضي الله عنه and even alleged that he did not perform Salah properly.

'Umar رضي الله عنه sent for him and said, "O Abu 'Affan, these people claim that you do not perform Salah properly."

He replied, "By Allaah, I perform the Salah with them similar to the Salah of Nabi and I do not exclude anything from it. I prolong the first two rak'ats of 'Ishaa Salah and shorten the last two."

'Umar رضي الله عنه said, "O Abu 'Affan, this is what I expected from you."

He then sent a few people with him to the people of Kufah to enquire about him. They proceeded and did not leave any Masjid without enquiring from the congregation about him. They all praised him until they arrived at the Masjid of the tribe of Bani 'Abs.

A man called 'Usamah Ibn Qatadah, commonly known as Abu Sa'dah, stood up and said, "As you have bound us under an oath, I am obliged to tell you that Sa'd did not accompany the army in battle, nor did he deal justly and distribute the wealth equally amongst us."

Sa'd رضي الله عنه said, "I then supplicated to Allaah for three things: 'O Allaah! If Abu Sa'dah is a liar, and has stood up to boast and earn a name for himself, then prolong his life, increase his poverty and afflict him with trials.'"

Later, when Abu Sa'dah was asked how things had turned out for him, he would reply that he was an old man in tribulation, as a result of Sa'd's curse. He would be seen loitering in the streets with his eyebrows overhanging his eyes, due to old age. [Pearls from the Path]