When reporting speech, tense and pronouns may change with context. Said usually has no personal object, while told is followed by the person addressed.
Practical examples
She said that she was busy.
قالت إنها كانت مشغولة.
He told me that the meeting was cancelled.
أخبرني أن الاجتماع أُلغي.
They said they would call later.
قالوا إنهم سيتصلون لاحقًا.