After the death of Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the people of Kufa wrote several letters to Husayn ibn Ali and invited him to their city. The third letter was delivered by Sa'id ibn Abd Allah al-Hanafi and Hani ibn Hani al-Sabi'i.[3] Sa'id was so well-reputed that he could convince Husayn to come to Kufa.[4] That letter was written by Shabath ibn Rib'i, Hajjar ibn Abjar, Yazid ibn al-Harith al-Shaybani, Yazid ibn Ruwaym, 'Uzra ibn Qays, 'Amr ibn Hajjaj and Muhammad ibn 'Umayr.[5]
The letter began as such:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. To Husayn ibn Ali from the Shi'ite Muslims. Please come sooner because the people are waiting for you and their hearts are with you. Please hurry. Peace be upon you. Every place is green, fruits are ripe, and water wells are full. Please come; your army is ready, and peace be upon you.
Husayn wrote a reply to this letter and Sa'id delivered it to people of Kufa. He appointed Muslim ibn Aqil as his representative in Kufa. When Muslim entered Kufa, he stayed in al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi's house and delivered a speech for people. Muslim ibn Aqil gave Sa'id the responsibility to call Imam Husayn to Kufa. Sa'id returned to Mecca and delivered Muslim ibn Aqil's letter to Husayn. He accompanied Husayn from Mecca to Karbala.[6]
Husayn called all his companions to gather behind the camp and gave a speech, asking them to take the hands of their friends and escape the land in the darkness of the night. Husayn said, "these people are after me, so there is nothing for you to be concerned about, and I will forgive you all".
Sa'id stood up and replied to the Husayn:
O, the son of the Prophet! I swear to God that we will never stop helping you so that God knows that we have obeyed the Prophet's will about his progeny. I swear to God that if I am killed and then restored to life, and my corpse is burned 70 times and my ashes are scattered by the wind, I will never give up on you. May I be sacrificed for you.[7]
Sa'id went to Husayn after the noon prayer on the day of Ashura and asked for his permission to go to the battlefield. He went to the battlefield while chanting paeans and inflicted many casualties on the enemy's army before becoming martyred.
A different account states that Sa'id was martyred after the noon prayer while protecting Husayn.[8] When Husayn was reciting the noon prayer, the enemy's army approached him. Sa'id guarding him by making himself a shield against the arrows thrown at Husayn and the other companions performing prayers. He was hit by arrows in his face, chest, sides, and hands.[9] When he fell down and was dying, he made the following prayer: "O, God! As you have cursed the people of 'Ad and Thamud, curse these people [that is, the army of Kufa]. O, God! Send my regards to your prophet and inform him of pains and injuries I have suffered in my body, since I have helped your prophet to achieve your rewards."[10]
It is said that Sa'id then turned to Husayn, and said to him: "O the son of the Prophet! Have I fulfilled my pledge?"
He responded: "Yes, you are in the heaven in front of me."[10]
It is said that when he was martyred, there were 13 arrows on his body in addition to injuries by swords and spears.[11]
