His full name is Saʿd b. Mālik b. Sinān al-Anṣārī al-Khazrajī. He was a Companion (ṣaḥābī) of great stature. He was among the jurists of the Companions. At the Battle of Uhud, he was considered too young and thus was not allowed to participate. He first took part in the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq). Abū Saʿīd participated in twelve military expeditions (ghazā) with the Messenger of God (peace be upon him). He narrated a large number of hadith from the Prophet and the community of Companions. Many from among the Companions and the Followers (tābiʿūn) narrated hadith from him. He was one of the distinguished and learned personalities unique among the Companions. According to the statements of al-Wāqidī and others regarding his status, Abū Saʿīd died in the seventy-fourth year of the Hijra. According to a weak narration, he died in the sixty-fourth year of the Hijra. Allah knows best the truth of the matter.
Al-Ṭabarānī narrated that Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī said:
"I said:
- O Messenger of God, who among people is most afflicted by trials?
- The Prophets.
- Then who?
- The righteous. One of them is tested with poverty to the extent that he cannot find anything to cover himself. One of them is tested by lice infesting his body, so that he picks them off his body. When one of them is afflicted by a trial, he rejoices more than if he were to experience ease and abundance."
Qutayba b. Saʿīd narrated that Saʿīd al-Maqburī said: The family of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī complained to him because of their neediness. So he went to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) to ask for something for his family. He found him speaking on the pulpit, saying:
"O people, the time has come when you no longer need to beg. Whoever wishes to be chaste, Allah will make him chaste. Whoever wishes to see himself as rich, Allah will make him rich. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, Allah has not given any servant a provision more ample than sabr (patient endurance). But if you must ask me for something, I will give you what I find."