They answered, “Yes.” He replied, “So long as this man lives, neither the world nor its people will go to ruin.” (1)

ʿAbd al-Khāliq ibn Manṣūr reported from Ibn Maʿīn, who said, “Abu ʿUbayd is reliable.”

ʿAbbās ibn Muḥammad transmitted from Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal: “Abu ʿUbayd is one whose standing with us increases in excellence every single day.” (2)

Abu Dāwūd said, “Abu ʿUbayd is reliable, trustworthy.” (3)

Abu Qudāmah said, “I heard Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal say, ‘Abu ʿUbayd is a master.’” (4)

Al-Dāraqutnī declared, “Reliable, an imām, a mountain (of knowledge).” (5)

Al-Ḥākim said, “Ibn Qutaybah tried to push himself forward in many disciplines, yet the scholars were not satisfied with him in any of them; the only imām accepted by everyone is Abu ʿUbayd.”

ʿAbbās al-Dūrī said: I heard Abu ʿUbayd say, “I have associated with people and debated with the ahl al-kalām (speculative theologians), and I have never seen a group more filthy in their defilement, weaker in argument, or more foolish than they. When I served as judge of the frontier district, I expelled three Jahmīs (followers of the Jahmiyyah sect)… … and another Jahmī.” (6)

It was also said that Abu ʿUbayd used to dye his hair and beard red and that he was imposing and dignified in bearing. (7)