Al-ʿUtbi narrated from his father:

When al-Ḥusayn set out for Kufa, Ibn ʿAbbās and Ibn al-Zubayr met in Mecca. Ibn ʿAbbās struck the front of Ibn al-Zubayr’s garment and recited:

O little sparrow perched upon Maʿmar,
The sky is now clear for you—so lay your eggs and sing,
And peck whatever you wish to peck…

“By Allah, son of al-Zubayr, the Ḥijāz is wide open for you, while al-Ḥusayn has gone.”

Ibn al-Zubayr replied, “By Allah, you people think that you are more entitled to this authority than anyone else.”

Ibn ʿAbbās said, “Only someone in doubt would think so; we are certain. Now tell me about yourself: why do you claim that you are more entitled to this authority than the rest of the Arabs?”

Ibn al-Zubayr answered, “Because of my superiority over them.”

He said, “Which is nobler—you, or the one through whom you gained your nobility?”

He replied, “The one through whom I gained nobility has only increased my nobility.”

Their voices rose until several men of Quraysh came between them and quieted them. (1)

ʿIkrimah reported: In knowledge Ibn ʿAbbās was an ocean; matters would split open for him. The Prophet ﷺ had prayed, “O Allah, inspire him with wisdom and teach him the interpretation (of revelation).”

When he lost his sight, people from al-Ṭāʾif came to him carrying portions of his learning—or, he said, books of his writings—so they began to read them to him. He would place some parts before others and others after. When he noticed this he said, “I have …”