Muhammad narrated to us; Abū Bakr informed us; Sufyān al-Tammār said to me:
“Al-Aʿmash’s mother once brought him to me and handed him over while he was still a young boy. Later I mentioned this to al-Aʿmash, and he exclaimed, ‘Woe to his mother—how big he has grown!’”
Ibn al-Aʿrābī reports in his Muʿjam: “I heard al-Daqīqī; I heard ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Sulaymān; I heard Abū Muʿāwiya; I heard al-Aʿmash say:
‘A jinni married into our family. We asked him, “What food do you crave most?” He replied, “Rice.” We brought some rice, and I saw the mouthfuls being lifted up although I could see no one. I asked, “Do you people have these sectarian leanings as well?” He answered, “Yes.”’
Muhammad ibn Yazīd narrated to us; Abū Khālid narrated to us: Al-Aʿmash—referring to the report, “That man—Satan has urinated in his ear”—remarked:
“I do not think my eyes have become rheumy except from how often Satan urinates in my ears, though I do not believe he has ever done so at all.”
I say: He meant that al-Aʿmash was a man who spent his nights in worship.
Ziyād ibn Ayyūb narrated to us; I heard Hushaym(1) say:
“I never saw in Kūfah anyone who recited the Book of Allah more accurately, transmitted hadith more soundly, had a better grasp of matters, or answered questions more quickly than al-Aʿmash—except Ibn Shubruma.”
Aḥmad ibn Zuhayr told me; I heard Ibrāhīm ibn ʿArʿarah; I heard Yaḥyā al-Qaṭṭān, whenever he mentioned al-Aʿmash, say:
“He was among the ascetics, diligent in performing the congregational prayer and in standing in the first row; he was a hallmark of Islam.”
Yaḥyā would feel his way along the wall so that he could stand in the first row.
ʿAlī ibn Sahl narrated to us; ʿAffān informed us; Abū ʿAwānah informed us:
“Raqabah came to al-Aʿmash and asked him about something, whereupon al-Aʿmash scowled at him. Raqabah said, ‘By Allah, I did not know you to be perpetually sullen, quick to grow weary, and dismissive of a visitor’s right. It is as though you were being dosed with mustard whenever you are asked for wisdom!’”