Abu Bakrah narrates: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) came to us in Basrah, and in all of Arabia there was no one like him, whether in dignity and stature, knowledge and insight, eloquence, or beauty. Ali bin Muhammad says: Ali was born to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and he was the most distinguished of his children. He was born in the year 40 AH, or in the year of the Battle of the Camel, 36 AH. He was the most handsome Qurayshi on the face of the earth and one who prayed abundantly, and he was called by the title "al-Sajjad" (the one who prostrates much), and the caliphate continued in his line. Among his other sons were Abbas (who was the eldest, and after whom Ibn Abbas had his kunyah), Muhammad, Ubaydullah and al-Fadl, and among the daughters was Lubabah. The mother of all of them was Zur'ah bint Misrah, and her father Misrah was one of the four kings (of Yemen). The lines of Abbas, Ubaydullah, al-Fadl and Muhammad did not continue, while Lubabah was married to Ali bin Abdullah bin Ja'far bin Abi Talib, through whom her descendants continued. And Asma bint Abdullah was married to Abdullah bin Ubaydullah bin Abbas, from whom Hasan and Husayn were born, and her mother was an umm walad (a slave woman who bore her master a child).

Al-Musayyab bin Rafi' narrates that when Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) lost his sight, a man came to him and said: "If you agree for seven days that you will pray only lying down, by gestures, I will treat you, and you will recover, if Allah wills." He sent word for advice to Sayyidah Aishah and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) and other Companions, and all of them said: "Just consider: if you were to die during these seven days, what would become of those prayers of yours (which you prayed lying down)?" So he did not have his eye treated and left it as it was. Next follows the mention of the merits of Sayyiduna Awf bin Malik al-Ashja'i (may Allah be pleased with him).