Qays ibn Saʿd (Arabic: قيس بن سعد) was a prominent leader of the Rashidun Muslim army who was known for his use of defensive tactics in battles.
[2] He goes on to note that Qays abandoned all his cunning in dealing with people and devoted himself to becoming a true and sincere Muslim.
[1][4] In his book, The Succession to Muḥammad: A Study of The Early Caliphate, Wilferd Madelung discusses the appointment of Qays ibn Sa'd as the governor of Egypt by stating, Ali chose Qays over Muhammad ibn Abu Hudhaifa, whom the Egyptian rebels looked as their leader and had control of al-Fustat.
[1] Madelung states, He also rejected Amr ibn As, a supporter of Mu'awiya, as a candidate even though Aisha demanded his restoration on the grounds of his popularity among the army of Egypt.
[1] Madelung also states, According to Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi of the Khazraj tribe, Qays then left with only seven companions and was able to reach al-Fustat without any worries/troubles.
[1] The letter was written in Safar 36 AH (July 656 AD), roughly two months after Ali's accession by Ubaydullah ibn Abi Rafi.
[1] Ali mentioned that Muhammad had first been succeeded by two persons, after whom a ruler (Uthman) had taken charge and introduced innovations such that the community protested and reproached him.
[1] As the governor, Qays did not take any major steps against Uthman's partisans, who had seceded to the village of Kharbita near Alexandria after the revolt of Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa.
[1] Maslama ibn Mukhallad al-Sa’idi, a kinsman of Qays, called for retaliation for the blood of Uthman.
[1] Qays ibn Sa'd was the commander of Shurta al-Khamis, a military unit that supported Ali in Iraq.