It was reported that al-Ahnaf marched on Balkh, where the inhabitants concluded a peace settlement with him for 400,000. He then advanced toward Khwarazm, but finding it beyond his ability, he withdrew.

Ibn Ishaq relates that Ibn ʿAmir left Khurasan intending to perform ʿumrah, having already entered the state of ihram there. He placed al-Ahnaf in charge of Khurasan. The people of Khurasan gathered an immense host and massed at Marw; al-Ahnaf met them, routed them, and no such army had ever been heard of before.

Ibn ʿUlayyah narrates from Ayyub, from Muhammad:

“I was informed that ʿUmar once mentioned Banu Tamim and disparaged them. Al-Ahnaf rose and said, ‘Commander of the Believers, permit me to speak.’

“‘Speak,’ he replied.

“Al-Ahnaf said, ‘You have mentioned Banu Tamim and censured them collectively, yet they are but a people—among them are the righteous and the corrupt.’

“ʿUmar said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’

“Al-Hutat—who opposed him—then stood and said, ‘Commander of the Believers, allow me to speak.’

“He replied, ‘Sit down; your chief al-Ahnaf has spared you the need.’”

Ibn Judʿan transmits from al-Hasan that ʿUmar wrote to Abu Musa: “Admit al-Ahnaf ibn Qays, consult him, and listen to him.”

Qatadah reports from al-Hasan: “I never saw a noble of his people who was better than al-Ahnaf.”

Ibn al-Mubarak said: It was asked of al-Ahnaf, “By what means did they make you their leader?” He answered, “If people were to find fault even with water, I would refrain from drinking it.”

It was also said: Banu Tamim lived under the forbearance of al-Ahnaf for forty years.

Concerning him, a poet said:
Whenever eyes behold Ibn Qays,
They remain in awe of him, subdued. (1)

Khalid ibn Safwan remarked, “Al-Ahnaf fled from distinction, yet distinction pursued him.”

Someone said to al-Ahnaf, “You are elderly, and fasting weakens you.” He replied, “I am storing it up for a long journey.”

It was further said: Most of al-Ahnaf’s prayer was during the night, and he would place his finger on