devout, and richly endowed with virtue, and abounding in intellect, possessed of an elegant hand, highly meticulous. He composed numerous works, and his name became widely known (1).

Ibn al-Jawzī (2) said: “He studied belles-lettres with al-Tibrīzī for seventeen years, so that the science of lexicography ultimately rested with him. He lectured on Arabic at the Niẓāmiyya, and the Caliph al-Muqtafī (3) would read parts of various books to him. He was humble, sparing in speech, deliberate, and would often say, ‘I do not know.’

He died in Muḥarram of the year 540 AH; whoever asserted that his death occurred in 539 AH is mistaken (4).

Ibn al-Najjār said: “He was the foremost scholar of his age in lexicography. He transcribed a great many works in his graceful, precise script, while maintaining firm piety and upright conduct. He was trustworthy, authoritative, and noble.”

Kamal al-Anbārī (5) said: “He wrote on prosody, produced a commentary on Adab al-Kātib (6), compiled al-Muʿarrab (7) and al-Takmila fī Laḥn al-ʿĀmma (8). I studied under him; people benefited from him because of his devotion and the excellence of his character, and he used to prefer—”