[Machine] If he wishes to look at the most knowledgeable man we encountered in his time, let him look at al-Hasan. For we have not encountered anyone more knowledgeable than him. And if he wishes to look at the most pious man we encountered in his time, let him look at Ibn Seerin. For he would abandon some permissible matters due to his fear of sin. And if he wishes to look at the most worshipful man we encountered in his time, let him look at Thabit al-Bunani. For we have not encountered anyone more worshipful than him. You can see him throughout the day fasting, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead to his feet. And if he wishes to look at the most cautious man we encountered in his time, and the one most deserving of conveying hadiths as he heard them, let him look at Qatadah.  

أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى أَعْلَمِ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكْنَاهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ فَمَا أَدْرَكْنَا أَعْلَمَ مِنْهُ وَمَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى أَورَعِ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكْنَاهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى ابْنِ سِيرِينَ إِنَّهُ لَيَدَعُ بَعْضَ الْحَلَالِ تَأَثُّمًا وَمَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى أَعْبَدِ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكْنَاهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ فَمَا أَدْرَكْنَا الَّذِي هُوَ أَعْبَدُ مِنْهُ تَرَاهُ فِي يَوْمٍ إِنَّهُ لَيَظَلُّ الْيَوْمَ الْمَعْمَعَانِيَّ الطَّوِيلَ مَا بَيْنَ طَرَفَيْهِ صَائِمًا يُرَوِّحُ مَا بَيْنَ جَبْهَتِهِ وَقَدَمِهِ وَمَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى أَحْفَظِ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكْنَاهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ وَأَجْدَرَ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ الْحَدِيثَ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى قَتَادَةَ»