He personally heard an indescribably large number of traditions from: Jaʿfar al-Sarrāj; the chamberlain Abū al-Hasan ibn al-ʿAllāf; Abū Saʿd ibn Khushaysh; Abū al-Ghanāʾim al-Narsī; Abū al-Qāsim ibn Bayān; Abū ʿAlī ibn Nabhan; Abū Saʿd ibn al-Ṭuyūrī; Abū al-ʿIzz Muḥammad ibn al-Mukhtār; he would even go to the judge of the Maristān, to Ismāʿīl ibn al-Samarqandī, and further still to Ibn Nāṣir and Ibn al-Baṭṭī. Later he journeyed on and, in Damascus, studied under Hibat Allāh ibn al-Akfānī and ʿAbd al-Karīm ibn Ḥamzah.

Blessing attended his narration, and he repeated most of what he had heard on numerous occasions.

Among those who transmitted from him were: Ibn al-Samʿānī; Abū al-Qāsim Ibn ʿAsākir; Abū al-Faḍl ibn Shāfiʿ; Abū al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzī—who reported from him extensively—Aḥmad ibn al-Bandanījī; Ibn al-Akhḍar; Abū Ṭālib ibn ʿAbd al-Samīʿ; the ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Ghanī; Shaykh Muwaffaq al-Dīn; Manṣūr ibn al-Muʿawwij (1); Aḥmad ibn al-Muʿizz al-Ḥarrānī; and many others. By written authorisation he was also heard by al-Rashīd ibn Maslamah.

Abū Saʿd al-Samʿānī said: “He heard a vast amount, copied manuscripts, and, despite his advanced years, pursued knowledge with earnestness. He was of fine conduct and sound character. Abū al-Qāsim al-Dimashqī compiled a fascicle for him; I heard from him, and he heard from me.”

Ibn al-Najjār observed: “He was among those who listened, wrote, and gathered traditions in great quantity right up to the end of his life, showing firm resolve and diligence. He possessed ample worldly means, which he spent in the quest for ḥadith and on its people until he became impoverished. He copied extensively, acquired excellent source manuscripts, and was chaste, upright, righteous, and devout. He fasted continuously and walked a great deal.”

(1) Some copies read: al-Muʿawwaj.