Sayyiduna al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) sent his son Abdullah to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he fell asleep behind him (peace and blessings be upon him). At that time there was a man with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards him and asked: "When did you come, my dear one?" He replied: A little while ago. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Did you see anyone with me?" He replied: Yes, I saw a man. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That was Jibril (peace be upon him), and no creature sees him (in his true form) except that it becomes blind, unless it is a prophet; but that (blindness) will be placed at the end of your life." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated: 'Allahumma 'allimhu al-ta'wil, wa faqqihhu fi al-din, wa ij'alhu min ahl al-iman' (O Allah, teach him the interpretation (of the Qur'an), grant him understanding of the religion, and make him one of the people of faith). This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) states: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went into the toilet, and when he came out he found a covered vessel of water (for ablution) there. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Who placed this here?" I said: I did. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated: 'Allahumma 'allimhu ta'wil al-Qur'an' (O Allah, grant him knowledge of the interpretation of the Qur'an). This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Masruq states that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) had reached our age, none of us would have equalled even a tenth of him." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

Shaqiq states: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) delivered a sermon (to the people) during the Hajj season. He began Surah al-Nur and started reciting it and explaining it. I (in amazement) began to say: I have never seen or heard speech like this; if the people of Persia and Rome heard it, they would surely accept Islam.