And Sālim narrated from his father, tracing the report back to the Prophet: “A fire will emerge from the direction of Yemen (1) ….” Nāfiʿ, however, transmitted it from Ibn ʿUmar, who in turn quoted Kaʿb, relating it as Kaʿb’s own statement. It was said: Abū Sālim enjoys a higher rank than Nāfiʿ, yet the hadith of Nāfiʿ are nearer to what is correct.

Ibn Saʿd remarked (2): “Sālim was reliable, prolific in hadith, possessed lofty chains, and was devout.”

Abū Ḍamrah al-Laythī related: “Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Malik (3) once performed the pilgrimage and met Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh. Admiring his countenance, he asked, ‘What do you eat?’ Sālim replied, ‘Bread and oil.’ ‘And if you do not fancy it?’ asked Hishām. ‘I leave it until I do fancy it,’ he answered. Hishām cast the evil eye on him (4); Sālim fell ill and died. Hishām attended the funeral, and the people converged in great numbers (5). Seeing this, Hishām exclaimed, ‘The people of Medina are indeed many!’ He then imposed a draft upon them, sending out a contingent of them, and not one of them returned. The people of Medina considered this an ill omen, saying, ‘He cast the evil eye on our jurist, and he has cast the evil eye on the people of our city as well’ (6).

Juwayriyyah ibn Asmāʾ narrated: Ashʿab al-Ṭamaʿ told me that Sālim said to him, “Do not ask anyone for anything except Allah, Exalted is He.”

Fitr ibn Khalīfah said: “I saw Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh with both head and beard entirely white” (7).