Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid said, “I heard al-Shaʿbī declare, ‘No one alive today is more knowledgeable of the Book of Allah than Ikrimah.’

Qatādah observed, ‘The most learned of people concerning what is lawful and unlawful is al-Ḥasan; the one who knows the rites (manāsik) best is ʿAṭāʾ; and the foremost authority in tafsīr is Ikrimah.’

Saʿīd transmitted from Qatādah that he said, ‘Among the Followers the four greatest scholars were: ʿAṭāʾ, who knew the rites best; Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, the most expert in tafsīr; Ikrimah, the most knowledgeable of the Prophet’s biography; and al-Ḥasan, the most versed in what is lawful and unlawful.’

Hātim ibn Wardān related from Ayyūb: ‘The preservers of Ibn ʿAbbās’s traditions—among them Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, ʿAṭāʾ, and Ṭāwūs—gathered around Ikrimah and seated him before them. They began asking him about the hadiths of Ibn ʿAbbās; each time he narrated a report, Saʿīd would say, “Exactly so,” counting off with his fingers up to thirty, until they asked about the fish (1).

Ikrimah replied, “It used to travel alongside the two of them in a shallow stretch of water.” Saʿīd said, “I testify that Ibn ʿAbbās said: the two of them carried it in a basket.” Ayyūb remarked, “I think he used to relate both statements.”’

Abū Bakr al-Hudhalī said, ‘I asked al-Zuhrī, “Ikrimah and Saʿīd ibn Jubayr have differed regarding one of the scoffers. Saʿīd says it was al-Ḥārith ibn Ghayṭalah, whereas Ikrimah says it was al-Ḥārith ibn Qays.” He replied, “Both are correct: his mother was called Ghayṭalah (2) and his father was called Qays.”’