Ibn Isḥāq transmitted—through Yaḥyā ibn ʿAbbād ibn ʿAbd Allāh—from ʿĀʾishah, who said:

“Three men of the Anṣār, all from Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal, were such that after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ no one was thought to surpass them in virtue: Saʿd ibn Muʿādh, Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr, and ʿAbbād ibn Bishr (1).”

Ibn Isḥāq added: “Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr was one of the tribal chiefs (naqīb), yet he did not witness Badr. His kunya was Abū Yaḥyā.

“It is also said that Usayd had a cheerful sense of humour and excellent manners.”

Ḥuṣayn narrated—from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā—on the authority of Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr, who was known for his good-natured joking:

He was once in the company of the Prophet ﷺ when the Prophet gently prodded him with a twig he was holding. Usayd said, “Allow me to retaliate.” The Prophet replied, “Take your retaliation.” Usayd said, “You have a shirt on, whereas I do not.” So the Prophet lifted his shirt, whereupon Usayd began kissing his flank and said, “This is all I wanted, O Messenger of Allah” (2).

Abū Ṣāliḥ, the scribe of al-Layth, related: Yaḥyā ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sālim told us—through Nāfiʿ—from Ibn ʿUmar, who said:

When Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr died and his creditors stepped forward to claim what was owed to them, ʿUmar inquired, “In how many years can the yield of his date-orchard clear his debts?” He was told, “In four years.” He then said to the creditors, “Would it harm you if the property were not sold?” They replied, “Judge between us; we only wish to recover our due within four years.” They agreed to that arrangement, and he left the estate in their hands.

He added: “The date palms of Usayd were not sold for those four years from—” and the narration breaks off.