It is narrated from Sayyidah Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) that Sayyiduna al-Zubayr bin al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by a gathering of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) where Sayyiduna Hassan bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) was reciting his poetry to them, but they were not showing much eagerness in listening to his verses. So Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) sat down with them and said: "What is the matter that I do not see you paying attention to the poetry of Ibn al-Furay'ah (Hassan)? He used to present these verses before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would listen to them very attentively, reward him generously for them, and nothing would distract him (peace and blessings be upon him) from his words." Hearing this, Sayyiduna Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him) composed these verses (in praise of Sayyiduna al-Zubayr): "The disciple of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained firm upon his covenant and guidance, and speech is made true by deeds. He stood firm upon his (peace and blessings be upon him) path and way; he is a helper of the truth, and the truth is the most just. He is the famed horseman and the hero who pounces upon the enemy on the day of battle. When war breaks out in all its horror, he stokes its fire further with his gleaming sword, racing ahead towards death. A man whose mother is Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) and whose household is from the tribe of Asad is surely of lofty rank and standing. He has close kinship with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and through his support of Islam he has gained an ancient and great glory. How many hardships did al-Zubayr ward off with his sword from al-Mustafa (peace and blessings be upon him), and Allah Almighty is the One who grants the finest reward for it. There is none like him among them (the Companions), nor was there before him, nor will there be anyone like him for as long as the world endures, as long as the mountain of Yadhbul stands. (O Zubayr!) Your praise is better than the deeds of other people, but O son of the Hashimi woman, your deeds are even more excellent than your praise."