Salaf Did Not Allow Anyone to Raise Them Above Their Level, Regardless How People Rated Them!

Abu Khaythama narrated to us, (saying): Jareer narrated to us from Al-A’mash from Mas’ood Ibn Maalik who said: Ali Ibnul Husain said to me, ‘’Are you able to make me meet with Saeed Ibn Jubayr?”  I said, ‘’What need do you have of him?”  He said: ‘’I want to ask him about some affairs.  Indeed, the people commend us for that which we do not possess.”

[Sourc e: Kitaabul Ilm of Abu Khaythama with the checking of Imaam Aal Albaanee, page:18; narration number: 64]