Muharib bin Dithar narrates from the son of Sayyiduna Sa'id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) that Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) sent word to Marwan bin al-Hakam in Madinah to take the pledge of allegiance for his son Yazid. At that time Sayyiduna Sa'id bin Zayd bin Amr bin Nufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) was not present in Madinah, so Marwan began to wait for him. A man from the people of Syria said to Marwan: What is holding you back? Marwan said: I am waiting for Sa'id bin Zayd to come, because he is one of the elders of the people of Madinah; when he pledges allegiance, all the people will pledge allegiance. The narrator said: Sa'id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) was late in coming, until Marwan took the pledge (from the rest of the people), while Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) refrained from pledging allegiance.

Sayyidah Aishah bint Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that her father, Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), washed Sayyiduna Sa'id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) and applied perfume (hanut) to him. Then he came home, took a bath (ghusl) and said: "Take note! I did not take a bath because of washing him (as an obligation); rather, I bathed because of the heat and warmth."