Al-Asmaʿi said: When Qutaybah ibn Muslim drew up his lines against the Turks and their might unnerved him, he asked, “Where is Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ?”
He was told, “There he is on the right flank, bent over his bow, signalling toward the sky with his finger.”
Qutaybah declared, “That single finger is dearer to me than one hundred thousand drawn swords and handsome young warriors.”

Hazm al-Qutaʿi related: While on his deathbed Ibn Wasiʿ said, “My brothers, do you know where I am being taken? By Allah, it is to the Fire—unless Allah pardons me.”

Ibn Shawdhab said, “He was not known for copious outward worship; he would wear a Basran shirt and a sāj (1).”

Matar al-Warraq remarked, “We shall remain in good shape so long as our elders are still with us—Malik ibn Dinar, Thabit al-Bunnani, and Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ.”

Jaʿfar ibn Sulayman reported that Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ said, “I envy the man who keeps his religion while owning nothing of this world, yet is content.”

It is also narrated from Ibn Wasiʿ: “When a servant turns his heart toward Allah, Allah turns the hearts of people toward him.”

He likewise said, “Along with waraʿ (scrupulous piety), a little action and a little supplication are sufficient.”

Hisham ibn Hassan narrated from Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ that when he was asked, “How are you this morning?” he replied, “My appointed term is near, my hopes are distant, and my deeds are poor.”

It is told that a man lodged a complaint with Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ about his son. He said to the boy, “You lord it over people, yet I bought your mother for four hundred dirhams, and your father—may Allah not multiply his like among the Muslims!”

It is also said that he asked a man, “Has Allah’s prior knowledge of you ever made you weep?”

Abu al-Tayyib Musa ibn Yasar said, “I accompanied Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ on the journey to Mecca. He spent the whole night in prayer, praying seated in the mahmil (camel-litter) and signalling with gestures.”

It was related that Hawshab told Malik ibn Dinar, “I saw in a vision a herald calling, ‘Set out! Set out!’ and none set out except Muhammad ibn Wasiʿ.” Malik wept and collapsed unconscious.