once we were in a place of modesty in a large group and the people were silent and the gathering was large. he was far from me. then the meccan man came to me and said while the people were listening o abu uthman who is the most stingy of our companions? i said abu alhudhayl. he said then who? i said a friend of ours whom i will not name. alhizami said from afar he only means me.
وكنا مرة موضع حشمة، وفي جماعة كثيرة، والقوم سكوت، والمجلس كبير. وهو بعيد المكان مني. فأقبل علي المكي وقال، والقوم يسمعون يا أبا عثمان من أبخل أصحابنا؟ قلت أبو الهذيل. قال ثم من؟ قلت صاحب لنا لا أسميه. قال الحزامي من بعيد إنما يعنيني.