Al-Thawri narrated, on the authority of al-Harith al-Azdi, who said:
Ibn al-Hanafiyyah declared, “May Allah have mercy (1) on a man who makes himself self-sufficient, keeps his hand in check, restrains his tongue, and sits in his own house. He shall receive the reward he intended, and he will be with those he loves. Be aware! The deeds of the Umayyads overtake them more swiftly than the Muslims’ swords. Be aware! The people of truth will have a turn in power; Allah will bring it about whenever He wills. Whoever lives to witness that will, in our view, have the highest share (2), and whoever dies before it—what is with Allah is better and more lasting (3).”

Abu ʿAwanah related to us—Abu Jamrah (4) told us—he said:
They used to say to Ibn al-Hanafiyyah, “Peace be upon you, O Mahdi.” He would answer, “Indeed, I am a mahdi: I guide to right conduct and goodness; my name is Muhammad.” So they said, “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad,” or, “O Abu al-Qasim.” (5)

Al-Rabiʿ ibn Mundhir al-Thawri transmitted, from his father, who said:
Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah said, “I would love to ransom these supporters of ours with part of my own blood.” Then he added, “Because of their lying talk and their broadcasting of secrets—even if it were one of their own mothers, they would incite others against her until she was killed.” (6)

Ibn Saʿd (7) said: “Al-Mukhtar was killed in the year 68 AH. In 69 AH Ibn al-Zubayr sent his brother ʿUrwah to Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah with the message: ‘I will never leave you until you pledge allegiance to me, or I return you to prison. Allah has slain the impostor whose support you claimed, and the people of Iraq (8) have unanimously rallied to me. So pledge!’ ”

He replied, “O ʿUrwah, how quickly your brother severs the ties of kinship and belittles the truth! How heedless he is of the swift punishment of Allah! Your brother is certain of eternal life. By Allah, al-Mukhtar was sent neither as a caller nor as a helper (9); indeed, he was—”