Ibn Saʿd mentions him and says (1): “He narrated from Ubayy ibn Kaʿb.”

He was trustworthy, possessed of merit, piety, sound judgment, and fine manners.

Al-ʿIjli said: “He was reliable; in Basra none escaped the ordeal of Ibn al-Ashʿath except him and Ibn Sirin, and in Kufa none escaped it except Khaythamah ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman and Ibrahim al-Nakhaʿi.”

Mahdi ibn Maymun said: Ghailan ibn Jarir narrated to us that a dispute arose between him and another man, and the latter slandered him. So he prayed, “O Allah, if he is lying, then cause him to die.” The man immediately collapsed dead on the spot. The matter was reported to Ziyad, who said, “You have killed the man!” He replied, “No; it was a supplication that happened to coincide with his appointed term.” (2)

Ghailan also reported that Mutarrif used to wear elegant striped cloaks and hooded mantles, ride horses, and visit the authorities; yet when you conversed with him privately, you found pure delight. (3)

He used to say, “People’s intellects are commensurate with the times in which they live.” (4)

Qatadah narrated from Mutarrif ibn ʿAbd Allah that he said, “The excellence of knowledge is dearer to me than the excellence of worship, and the best part of your religion is scrupulousness.” (5)

Yazid ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Shikhkhir said: “Mutarrif is ten years older than I, and I am ten years older than al-Hasan al-Basri.”

I say: On this basis, Mutarrif’s birth would have been in the year of Badr or the year of Uhud, and it is conceivable that he heard ʿUmar and Ubayy in person.