Muhammad ibn Rabiʿah al-Kilabi—on the authority of Mustaqim ibn ʿAbd al-Malik—said:
“I saw al-Hasan and al-Husayn when they were still young; they had not yet applied any dye to their hair. I also saw them riding strong baradhin with speckled saddles.” (1)

Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad—on the authority of his father—reported that al-Hasan and al-Husayn used to wear their signet rings on their left hands, and engraved on the rings was the Name of Allah. (2)

Qays, the freedman of Khabbab, said: “I saw al-Hasan dyeing his hair black.” (3)

Shuʿbah—on the authority of Abu Ishaq, from al-ʿAyzar—stated that al-Hasan used to dye his hair black.

ʿUbayd Allah ibn Abi Yazid likewise said: “I saw al-Hasan had dyed his hair black.”

Ibn ʿUlayyah—on the authority of Ibn ʿAwn, from ʿUmayr ibn Ishaq—relates:
“We entered upon al-Hasan ibn ʿAli to visit him during an illness. He said to my companion, ‘So-and-so, ask me whatever you wish.’ Then he rose, went into a small room, and came back out saying, ‘By Allah, I have just expelled a piece of my liver, turning it over with a stick. I have been made to drink poison many times, but never anything like this.’

“The next day I came to him while he was in the throes of death. Al-Husayn arrived and said, ‘Brother, tell me—who gave you the poison?’

“He replied, ‘Why? So that you may kill him?’

“Al-Husayn said, ‘Yes.’

“Al-Hasan answered, ‘I shall not tell you. If the one I suspect is truly responsible, Allah’s vengeance will be far more severe; and if he is not, then—by Allah—no innocent person shall be killed because of me.’” (4)