It was also said that his buttocks were fused at birth, so they had to be cut apart for him.

Ibn al-Aʿrabi remarked: al-aḥnaf is the one who walks on the tops of his feet.

ʿAlī ibn ʿĀṣim—through Khālid al-Ḥaddāʾ, from Ibn Sīrīn, from al-Ahnaf—related: “I heard the sermons of Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, and the other caliphs, yet I never heard speech from any created being more impressive or more beautiful than that of the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾishah.”

From him is also reported: “The authority of a ruler can only be fulfilled through ministers and helpers; ministers and helpers are useful only when there is affection and sincere counsel; and affection and sincere counsel are of benefit only when joined to sound judgment and moral restraint.”

It is said that Ziyād greatly honored al-Ahnaf, but when Ziyād was succeeded by his son ʿUbayd Allah, al-Ahnaf’s standing declined and men inferior to him were promoted ahead of him. Later, when al-Ahnaf travelled to Muʿāwiyah in the company of notables, Muʿāwiyah said to ʿUbayd Allah, “Admit them to me in accordance with their ranks.” ʿUbayd Allah therefore placed al-Ahnaf at the end of the line.

When Muʿāwiyah saw him, he honored him because of his pre-eminence and said, “Come to me, Abū Baḥr,” seated him beside himself, and turned away from the others. They began praising ʿUbayd Allah ibn Ziyād, while al-Ahnaf remained silent. Muʿāwiyah asked him, “Why do you not speak?” He replied, “If I speak, I shall contradict them.” Muʿāwiyah then said, “Bear witness that I have dismissed ʿUbayd Allah.”

When they left, some of them coveted the governorship. Three days later they returned to Muʿāwiyah, each proposing a different candidate, and they quarreled among themselves. Muʿāwiyah said, “What do you say, Abū Baḥr?” He answered, “If you mean to appoint someone from your own household, you will not find anyone like ʿUbayd Allah.” (1)

Muʿāwiyah replied, “I have already reinstated him.” He then met privately with ʿUbayd Allah and said, “How could you have neglected such a man—one who dismissed you and restored you again, all while remaining silent?”

When ʿUbayd Allah returned, he made al-Ahnaf his confidential advisor. (2)

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Qāsim al-Miṣrī, the jurist, narrates—through Abū Shurayḥ al-Maʿāfirī, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿUmārah ibn ʿUqbah—who said: “I was present at the funeral of al-Ahnaf in Kūfah,”