Maʿn ibn ʿĪsā said: Khālid ibn Abī Bakr related to me, “I once saw Sālim wearing a white skull-cap and a white turban whose tail draped down his back more than a handspan (1).

Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī said: “We visited (2) Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh when he was dressed in a shirt and a cloak, with a waist-wrapper tied over them.”

Nāfiʿ said: “During the lifetime of Ibn ʿUmar, Sālim used to ride wrapped in a purple blanket.”

Ibn Saʿd remarked (3): “I was told by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī, from Mālik, from Ibn al-Musayyib, who said, ‘Of Ibn ʿUmar’s children, the one who most resembled him was Sālim.’”

It was also said that Sālim rode an old, scruffy donkey. His sons therefore cut off its tail so that he would abandon it, yet he still mounted it tailless. They then cut off one of its ears; he kept riding it, undeterred. Finally they severed the other ear, and even so he continued to ride it—out of humility and a conscious rejection of ostentation (4).

Al-Aṣmaʿī, quoting Ashʿab, narrated: I entered upon Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh and he said, “Some hareesa has been brought to us and I am fasting; sit down and eat.” I dug in heartily, whereupon he said, “Take it easy; there will be nothing left to send with you.”

When I went back, the woman said, “You wretch! ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿUthmān sent for you, and I told him you were ill!” I replied, “Well done.”

I then entered the bathhouse, rubbed myself with oil and saffron, bandaged my head, took a cane to lean on, and went to him.

He said, “Ashʿab?!” I answered, “Yes—may I be your ransom—I have not been on my feet for two months.”

Sālim was there with him, though I had not realized it, and he exclaimed, “Woe to you, Ashʿab!” He grew angry and left. ʿAbd