and ʿUthmān (1) al-Raḍī, his brother in excellence as well; al-Ṭūsī (2), a pillar of earnest supplication; al-Nasawī (3)—I mean Zuhayr, better known in scholarly gatherings as Ibn Ḥarb; and al-Dhuhlī (4), the just “sun of the East,” whose reliability is affirmed by both foe and friend.
Bear in mind, too, the authors of the five Ṣaḥīḥ collections—men who in the Sharīʿa stand like mountains. Then add Ibn Shujāʿ of Balkh (5), followed by the Samarqandī (6), my chief intellectual capital; their Abū Shanja (7), and after him Ibn Naṣr (8), the leading figure among them in Marw and their dependable mainstay. In Rayy you will find Ibn Wārah (9), a man of penetrating discernment, together with his two peers: Abū Zurʿa (10) and Abū Ḥātim (11).
Likewise Ibn al-Furāt (12), a sword raised against the people of innovation, striking them like sharpened lances; and al-Ḥarbī (13)—Aḥrab his teknonym, Ḥarb his given name, the son of Ismāʿīl—an upright scholar of notable attainment.
(1) He is the brother of the previously mentioned ʿAbd Allah; he died in 239 AH (≈ AD 854).
(2) Abu Hashim Ziyad ibn Ayyub al-Baghdadi, known as Abu Hashim al-Tusi, whom Imam Ahmad nick-named “the younger Shubah”; died in 252 AH (≈ 866).
(3) Zuhayr ibn Harb ibn Shaddad, Abu Khaythamah al-Nasaʾi, resident of Baghdad; died in 234 AH (≈ 848).
(4) Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Dhulhi al-Naysaburi, a reliable hafiz, died—according to the sound view—in 258 AH (≈ 872).
(5) al-Hasan ibn Shujaʿ, Abu ʿAli al-Balkhi; died in 244 AH (≈ 858).
(6) The eminent hafiz Abu Muhammad Rajaʾ ibn Marja al-Samarqandi, who taught in Baghdad; died in 249 AH (≈ 863).
(7) The person meant is most likely Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Saʿid al-Bushanji, who died in 290 AH (≈ 903). Although his death occurred later, al-Bukhari narrated from him; he lived into his late eighties and was a trustworthy hafiz and jurist.
(8) Imam al-Hafiz Abu ʿAbd Allah Ahmad ibn Nasr al-Qurashi al-Naysaburi; died in 245 AH (≈ 859).
(9) Abu ʿAbd Allah Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn ʿUthman ibn Warah al-Razi, a firmly reliable hafiz; died in 270 AH (≈ 883).
(10) Abu Zurʿah ʿUbayd Allah ibn ʿAbd al-Karim al-Razi, the well-known critic; died in 264 AH (≈ 878).
(11) Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris al-Razi; died in 277 AH (≈ 890).
(12) Ahmad ibn al-Furat, the authoritative hafiz Abu Masʿud al-Razi, author of several works; died in 258 AH (≈ 872).
(13) Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Baghdadi al-Harbi; died in 285 AH (≈ 898).