—in tattered clothes. I went to al-Layth, and when the gathering was over a servant of his followed me with one hundred dinars. I already had in my belt (1) a purse containing one thousand dinars, so I took it out and said, “I am not in need of this; please ask leave for me to speak with the shaykh.”
He sought permission, I entered, told him of my lineage, and excused myself for refusing the gift. He said, “It is a gesture of kinship.”
I replied, “I dislike accustoming myself to such things.”
He said, “Then give it to whichever of the hadith scholars you think best.” (2)

Qutaybah said: Al-Layth would ride to the central mosque for every prayer, and each day he would give alms to three hundred poor people.

Sulaym ibn Manṣūr ibn ʿAmmār narrated: My father told us, saying, “I visited al-Layth when he was alone; he pulled out from beneath him a sack containing one thousand dinars and said, ‘Abū al-Sarī, do not let my son know of this, lest it become cheap in his eyes.’” (3)

Abū Ṣāliḥ related from al-Layth: Hārūn al-Rashīd once asked me, “What keeps your land prosperous?” I replied, “The flowing of the Nile and the rectitude of its governor. Turbidity begins at the spring; if the source is clear, the channels remain clear.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” (4)

Ibn Wazīr reported: Al-Layth once governed al-Jazīrah, and the governors of Egypt would not decide any matter without consulting him.

Abū al-Musʿad then composed—and sent it to al-Manṣūr—these lines:
“For Allah’s servant ʿAbd Allah I keep
Counsels I have woven in secret, alone.
Commander of the Faithful, rescue Egypt,
For its governor is al-Layth ibn Saʿd.” (5)