Those who narrated from him include al-Khatib, al-Humaydi, Abu al-Muzaffar al-Samʿani, Hibat Allah al-Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Tahir, Abu Bakr al-Ansari, Ismaʿil ibn al-Samarqandi, ʿAli ibn Sukaynah, ʿAbd al-Wahhab al-Anmati, al-Husayn ibn ʿAli—known as Sibṭ al-Khayyat—Yahya ibn ʿAli ibn al-Tarraḥ, and others.

He himself heard the following works: al-Mukhlis fi al-Nasab by al-Zubayr; the Book of Conquests (al-Futuh); the book of al-Muzani; the Reports of al-Asmaʿi; the Book of Piety (al-Birr); the Book of Asceticism (al-Zuhd) by Ibn al-Mubarak; the Book of Humor (al-Mazah) by al-Zubayr, along with other materials.

Al-Khatib mentioned him, saying (1): “His father was known as Hazar-Marda. Abu Muhammad came to Baghdad several times, narrated there, and he was truthful.”

Abu Saʿd al-Samʿani said: “A righteous, virtuous shaykh to whom people journeyed. He was born in Baghdad and was the most upright in conduct, the finest in character, the sincerest in intention, and the purest in heart. The senior scholars heard from him.”

Ibn Tahir related that Hibat Allah ibn ʿAbd al-Warith was traveling northward to Syria. When he entered Sarifin he saw a dignified shaykh sitting at the door of his house and asked him, “Have you heard any hadith?”

The shaykh replied, “I heard from Ibn Hababah, al-Kattani, Abu Tahir al-Mukhlis, and their peers.” Amazed, he asked to see the original manuscripts. The shaykh produced old autographs in the handwriting of Ibn al-Baqqal and others; Hibat Allah read what he had and made copies.

News of this reached ʿUkbara and Baghdad, so people set out to him (2).

Abu al-Fadl ibn Khayrun said: “He is reliable; he possesses excellent original manuscripts. I have read, in the handwriting of …”