Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah states that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) was the "Hibr" (that is, the great scholar) of this Ummah.

Mujahid states: I have never seen anyone like Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and on the day he died he was the "Hibr" (eminent scholar) of this Ummah.

Muhammad bin Ali (Ibn al-Hanafiyyah) said on the day Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) died: "Today the Rabbani of this Ummah (that is, the scholar firmly grounded in his knowledge and devoted to Allah) has passed away."

Mujahid states that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to be called "al-Bahr" (the Ocean of knowledge) because of the abundance of his knowledge.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: My father (Sayyiduna al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)) ordered me to spend a night with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So I went to the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Isha prayer until no one remained in the mosque except him (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by me and asked: "Who is this?" I said: Abdullah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "What is the matter?" I said: My father ordered me to spend tonight with you. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then come along with me." When he (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the house, he said: "Spread out a bed for Abdullah." So a pillow made of coarse hair was brought for me. Al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) had instructed me not to sleep until I had memorised (the manner of) his (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) lay down and slept until I heard him (peace and blessings be upon him) snoring. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) sat up straight on his bed, raised his head towards the sky and said three times: 'Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus' (Glory be to the King, the Most Holy). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited the last verses of Surah Al Imran, from "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth" [Surah Al Imran: 190] to the end of the surah. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) got up and relieved himself, then used the tooth-stick (miswak) and performed ablution, then went to his place of prayer and prayed two rak'ahs that were neither very short nor very long. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed and performed the witr. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) had completed his prayer, I heard him (peace and blessings be upon him) make this supplication: 'Allahumma ij'al fi basari nuran, wa ij'al fi sam'i nuran, wa ij'al fi lisani nuran, wa ij'al fi qalbi nuran, wa ij'al 'an yamini nuran, wa ij'al 'an shimali nuran, wa ij'al amami nuran, wa ij'al min khalfi nuran, wa ij'al min fawqi nuran, wa ij'al min asfala minni nuran, wa ij'al li yawma alqaka nuran, wa a'zim li nuran' (O Allah, place light in my sight, place light in my hearing, place light in my tongue, place light in my heart, place light on my right, place light on my left, place light in front of me, place light behind me, place light above me, place light beneath me, make light for me on the Day I meet You, and make my light great). This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it with this wording.

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.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) is the best interpreter of the Qur'an." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.