Al-Madāʾinī relates that his daily banquet in Iraq consisted of five hundred tables, every one of them serving roasted meat. He had previously governed Yemen, and he once beat Wahb ibn Munabbih so severely that the latter was left gravely wounded.

Ibn ʿAsākir reports: When al-Ḥajjāj died, this Yūsuf was arrested together with the members of al-Ḥajjāj’s household so that he might be tortured. He said, “Let me out, for I have something to ask.” He was handed over to al-Ḥārith al-Jahḍamī, a rather simple-minded man. They came to a house with two doors, where Yūsuf said, “Let me go in and consult my aunt.” He entered, slipped out through the other door, and escaped; this took place during the caliphate of Sulaymān.

Shabāb said: Yūsuf was appointed governor of Yemen in 106 AH and remained there until the decree naming him governor of Iraq reached him. He left his son al-Ṣalt as his deputy and set out.

Al-Layth said: Khalid al-Qasrī was removed from the governorship of Iraq in 120 AH and replaced by Yūsuf. His stupidity and arrogance became proverbial, so people would say, “More foolish than the fool of Thaqīf.”

A man once performed cupping for him but trembled in fear. Yūsuf said, “Tell this wretch not to be afraid,” for he did not condescend to address him directly.

Al-Walīd considered dismissing him, so Yūsuf acted quickly, presenting the caliph with enormous sums of money. To gain custody of Khalid al-Qasrī he paid forty million dirhams; Khalid was surrendered to him, and the province of Iraq was entrusted to Yūsuf. He then destroyed Khalid through torture and confiscation, extracting ninety million dirhams from him and his aides.

Later, Yazīd ibn Khalid ibn ʿAbd Allāh avenged his father upon Yūsuf; his deputy killed Yūsuf, and Yazīd himself was killed when Marwān al-Ḥimār seized power.

Abū al-Ṣaydāʾ said, “I witnessed this wicked man Yūsuf beat Wahb ibn Munabbih until he killed him.”

Abū Hāshim stated: Yazīd ibn Khalid sent his client Abū al-Asad, who entered the prison and beheaded Yūsuf ibn ʿUmar in 127 AH. Yūsuf had lived for more than sixty years.