It is narrated from Mus'ab bin Abdullah that: Al-Ahnaf bin Qays bin Husayn bin al-Nazzal bin Ubayd was a mukhadram (one who lived in both the pre-Islamic era and the era of Islam); he lived in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent his agent for collecting charity to his people, and al-Ahnaf helped the agent of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fully, upon which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for him. He relates that: Al-Ahnaf's real name was al-Dahhak, and it is also said that it was Sakhr bin Qays bin Mu'awiyah bin Husayn. He was "ahnaf" (crooked in the foot) from birth, and his mother said in his childhood: "By Allah! Were it not for the crookedness in his foot, there would be no boy in the settlement like him." And he was the most forbearing man among all the Arabs.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Ahnaf bin Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) that during the time of Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), while I was performing tawaf of the House of Allah, a man from Banu Layth took hold of my hand and asked: Shall I not give you glad tidings? I said: Certainly. He said: Do you remember when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me to your people, Banu Sa'd, and I was presenting Islam to them, and you said: He (the Prophet) calls to good and commands righteousness? Then I told this to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated: "O Allah! Forgive al-Ahnaf bin Qays." So al-Ahnaf used to say: In my view, none of my deeds is more hopeful for me than this supplication.