Aḥmad ibn Yūnus said, “Sufyān al-Thawrī used to remark, ‘Muʿāfā ibn ʿImrān is the ruby of the scholars.’

Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith said, ‘To this very day, when I mention Muʿāfā I derive benefit from recalling him, and when I remember having seen him, I benefit.’

Wakīʿ said, ‘Muʿāfā narrated to us, and he was one of the reliable authorities.’

Bishr al-Ḥāfī related that Ibn al-Mubārak would say, ‘The righteous man has narrated to me’—meaning Muʿāfā.

Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yūnus transmitted from Sufyān al-Thawrī that he said, ‘Gauge the people of Mosul by their attitude toward Muʿāfā.’

It is also narrated from al-Awzāʿī that he said, ‘I would not place anyone ahead of Muʿāfā of Mosul.’

Muḥammad ibn Saʿd said, ‘Muʿāfā was trustworthy, devout, outstanding, and firmly committed to the Sunnah.’

Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith said, ‘I heard Muʿāfā say: I heard al-Thawrī state, “If Allah has no further need for a servant, He hands him over to the ruler.”’

Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith also said, ‘Muʿāfā had memorized both hadith and legal questions. I asked him about a man who says to another, “Sit here and do not budge.” He replied, “He should remain seated until the time for prayer arrives, then he may stand.”’

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmārah said, ‘I saw Muʿāfā ibn ʿImrān—and I have never seen anyone better than him—being asked about coating graves with plaster, and he regarded it as disliked (1).’