Al-Tirmidhi also recorded it (1) through the chain of Sharik, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAsm—some say ʿIṣmah—and he remarked, “It is ḥasan gharīb; we know it only from the narration of Sharik.”

Al-Shafiʿi said: Musallim ibn Khalid related to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from Nāfiʿ, that Ibn ʿUmar kept to himself during the nights when Ibn al-Zubayr and al-Ḥajjāj were fighting at Mina, yet he still prayed with al-Ḥajjāj (2).

Al-Thawri narrated—on the authority of Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jābir—that he once entered upon al-Ḥajjāj, did not greet him, and would never pray behind him.

Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh said: Jarīr related to us, from al-Qaʿqaʿ ibn al-Ṣalt, who said: Al-Ḥajjāj preached and declared, “Ibn al-Zubayr has altered the Book of Allah.” Ibn ʿUmar replied, “Allah never empowered him to do that, nor were you with him—and if I wished to say, ‘You have lied,’ I surely would.” (3)

It is reported from Shahr ibn Ḥawshab and others that al-Ḥajjāj once prolonged the sermon, so Ibn ʿUmar kept repeating, “The prayer, the prayer!” He then rose, gave the iqāmah, and the people stood; al-Ḥajjāj led them in prayer. When they finished, he asked Ibn ʿUmar, “What made you do that?” He answered, “We come only for the prayer. Lead it at its appointed time, then elaborate afterward on whatever you wish.” (4)

Al-Aṣmaʿī said: I heard my uncle relate that, after al-Ḥajjāj had finished with Ibn al-Zubayr and arrived in Madinah, he met an elderly man leaving the city and asked him about the state of its people. The man replied, “In wretched condition: the son of the Messenger of Allah’s disciple has been killed.” Al-Ḥajjāj asked, “Who killed him?” The man answered, “The wicked, accursed one—al-Ḥajjāj—upon him be Allah’s curses and destruction, for he scarcely watches his duty to Allah.” Al-Ḥajjāj grew furious and said, “Old man, would you recognize al-Ḥajjāj if you saw him?” He replied, “Yes—may Allah never let him know good nor shield him from harm.” Al-Ḥajjāj then lifted the veil from his face and said, “You will know, old man, when your blood flows this very hour.” When the man realized he was in earnest, he said, “By Allah, this is astonishing, O Ḥajjāj! Had you known who I am, you would not have said such a thing. I am al-ʿAbbās ibn Abī Thawr (5); I suffer epileptic fits five times a day.” Al-Ḥajjāj responded, “Be gone! And may Allah never cure the wretch of his madness nor grant him well-being.” (6)

Imam Aḥmad (7) said: ʿAbd al-Ṣamad narrated to us; Ḥammād ibn Salamah narrated to us, from Ibn Abī Rāfiʿ, from