al-Khaḍir ibn Ḥammūyah, Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Khayr, al-ʿIzz ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn al-Ṣayqal, and Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Dīnah.

The loftiest chains of transmission culminated with him; he remained fully alert in both mind and senses, was remarkably patient, and had a deep love for narration.

He entered Egypt with his father, resided in Damietta for a period, and performed the pilgrimage seven times; on the eighth journey he missed the standing at ʿArafah because the sea held him back.

Al-Mundhirī states in al-Wafayāt (1): “I heard the Chief Judge Abū Muḥammad al-Kinānī say that he heard Ibn Kulayb remark, ‘I have taken 148 slave-girls as concubines.’ He added that, even at that advanced age, Ibn Kulayb would quarrel with his sons, insisting, ‘Buy me a slave-girl.’”

Ibn al-Najjār (2) said: “He enabled the young scholars to reach the level of their elders, and he was favored with sound health, a keen intellect, handsome features, and a ruddy complexion. He never tired of attending hadith sessions. He copied the booklet of Ibn ʿArafah in his own hand—when he was ninety-odd years old—in an elegant script, and he transmitted it verbatim. He had once been among the leading merchants, blessed with great wealth, but his fortunes later waned and he had to accept aid. After that he would not relate the booklet of Ibn ʿArafah except for a dinar. He was truthful, and I read a great deal to him.”

He passed away on the night of the 27th of Rabiʿ al-Awwal, 596 AH (3).