He had plunged into knowledge with a single, all-encompassing plunge.”

Qatadah replied, “Indeed, he grew up in it (1), wrapped himself in it (2), and absorbed it completely; by Allah, none detests him except a Haruri (3).”

Muhammad ibn Salam al-Jumahi narrated, on the authority of Hammam, from Qatadah, who said, “People say that the earth has never been without seven men; through them rain is sent down and through them calamity is averted. I hope that al-Hasan is one of those seven.”

Qatadah also said, “No one possessed more consummate dignity than al-Hasan.”

Humayd and Yunus likewise affirmed, “We never saw anyone whose sense of honor was more complete than al-Hasan’s.”

Ali ibn Yazid reported: “I heard Ibn al-Musayyab, ʿUrwah, al-Qasim, and others say, ‘We have not seen the like of al-Hasan. Had he lived in the time of the Companions while being of their age, they would not have outstripped him.’” (4)

Hammad ibn Zayd related, from Hajjaj ibn Artaʾah: “I asked ʿAtaʾ about reciting the Quran over the deceased. He replied, ‘We have neither heard nor known that any recitation is done over him.’ I said, ‘But al-Hasan maintains that it should be recited over him.’ (5) ʿAtaʾ responded, ‘Then follow that view; he is a great imam whose example is to be emulated.’”

Yunus ibn ʿUbayd declared, “As for me, I have never seen anyone whose words so closely matched his deeds as al-Hasan’s.” (6)

Abu Jaʿfar al-Razi transmitted from al-Rabiʿ ibn Anas, who said, “I used to frequent al-Hasan…"