1753 — Abū Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Kūfī al-Ushnānī narrated to us, saying: Ismā'īl ibn Mūsā al-Fazārī narrated to us, saying: Abd Allāh ibn al-Ajlah al-Kindī informed us, from Abū Sālih and Abū Hamza, both from Ikrima, who said:

“I witnessed Ibn Abbās on an occasion which, had Quraysh boasted of it before the Arabs, would truly have been a source of pride for them. I witnessed him during one of the pilgrimage seasons. The people gathered while he was inside and said, ‘Ask Ibn Abbās to admit us.’ I went in to him and said, ‘The people have asked me to admit them to you.’ He replied, ‘Admit them.’ I said, ‘There are too many of them for that.’ He said, ‘Bring me water for purification.’ I believe he said that he would perform ablution or bathe. He then said to me, ‘Bring me my carpet.’ He came out and sat down, then said, ‘Admit them.’ He said ⦗2270⦘: I replied, ‘There are too many of them for that.’ He said, ‘Admit those versed in the Quran.’

“I went out to them and said, ‘Whoever among you is a Quran reciter, let him enter.’ They entered and questioned him until they had exhausted all their questions. He then imparted to them as much knowledge again as they had asked him about, after which he said, ‘Let your brothers have their turn.’

“He then said, ‘Admit the specialists in the laws of inheritance.’ I went out and said, ‘Whoever among you is a specialist in the laws of inheritance, let him enter.’ They entered and questioned him until they had exhausted all their questions. He then imparted to them as much knowledge again as they had asked him about, after which he said, ‘Let your brothers have their turn.’

“He then said, ‘Go out and admit those versed in bequests.’ I went out and said, ‘Whoever among you is versed in bequests, let him enter.’ They entered and questioned him until they had exhausted all their questions. He then imparted to them as much knowledge again as they had asked him about, after which he said, ‘Let your brothers have their turn.’

“He then said to me, ‘Go out and admit the students of jurisprudence and those versed in poetry.’ They questioned him, even asking him about Kisrā, the narratives of the Children of Israel, and Anūshirwān. I witnessed all this from Ibn Abbās; had Quraysh boasted of it before the Arabs, it would truly have been a source of pride.”