Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book 36, Hadith 2 (In-Book) ⓘ
Mutarrif said, "I accompanied 'Imran ibn Husayn from Kufa to Basra. Very rarely did he arrive at my house without reciting some poetry to me. He said, 'Indirect speech accords great scope in avoiding lies.'"
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَرْزُوقٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، سَمِعَ مُطَرِّفًا قَالَ: صَحِبْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، فَقَلَّ مَنْزِلٌ يَنْزِلُهُ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يُنْشِدُنِي شِعْرًا، وَقَالَ: إِنَّ فِي الْمَعَارِيضِ لَمَنْدُوحَةٌ عَنِ الْكَذِبِ.
also referenced under: Hadith 857 (Reference) & Book 36, Hadith 857 (English)