, as well as Ibn ʿĀt and a host of scholars from the eastern lands.

He said: “He was precise and meticulous, a teacher whose benefit was plentiful; a master of calligraphy, accomplished in the preparation of manuscripts; thoroughly familiar with the chains of transmission, their routes, the transmitters and their ranks; pre-eminent in the science of Qur’anic readings; conversant with the disciplines of Arabic, jurisprudence and legal theory. He was a distinguished author, well-rounded, virtuous, of upright character—trustworthy and just. He copied with his own hand numerous volumes and principal reference works (1), clarified many passages of Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ’s Mashāriq al-Anwār, and for that purpose gathered copious foundational sources and monumental lexicons of rare expressions. He devoted himself to this for a long period, sparing no effort in investigation and verification until the book emerged in its most perfect form and its beauties became manifest.” The narrator then notes that Ibn al-Zubayr waxes extravagant in praising this work.

Those who transmitted from him include Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ṭanjālī, Ḥumayd al-Qurṭubī, the scribe Abū al-Ḥasan ibn Faraj, and Abū Isḥāq al-Ballafīqī. I visited him repeatedly (2) during his final illness, accompanied him in some of his affairs, and benefited from him, though—through my own negligence—I did not receive from him any recitation or other formal transmission.

He passed away on the third (3) of Shawwāl in the year 645 AH. His funeral (4) was among the most heavily attended I have ever witnessed. He had instructed that no Qur’anic recitation be performed over his grave and that no structure be built upon it. Allah placed affection for him in the hearts of His servants; he was venerated by all, especially outside his own city. Indeed, he was among the most zealous in defending the Sunnah and its adherents and among the most averse to the people of whims and innovations.