Ibn ʿUyaynah related that Mutarrif ibn ʿAbd Allah once said, “I would not be pleased to have told even a single lie, were the whole world and all it contains mine.”

Abū Nuʿaym reported: ʿUmārah ibn Zādhān told us, “I saw Mutarrif ibn al-Shikhkhir wearing a brocade cloak for which he had paid four thousand dirhams.”

Humayd ibn Hilāl said: The Ḥarūriyyah came to Mutarrif ibn ʿAbd Allah calling him to adopt their views. He replied, “People, if I possessed two souls, I would pledge one of them to you and keep the other back: if what you say proved to be guidance, I would let the second follow; but if it proved to be misguidance, one soul would perish while the other remained. Yet I have only one soul, and I will not endanger it.” ⦗1⦘

Qatādah narrated that Mutarrif said, “To be granted well-being and give thanks is dearer to me than to be afflicted and then show patience.” ⦗2⦘

Sulaymān ibn al-Mughīrah said, “Whenever Mutarrif entered his house, even the household utensils would glorify Allah along with him.” ⦗3⦘

Sulaymān ibn Ḥarb said, “Mutarrif’s supplications were answered. He once said to a man, ‘If you are lying, then let Allah expose you.’ The man died on the spot.” ⦗4⦘

Mahdī ibn Maymūn, on the authority of Ghaylān ibn Jarīr, recounted: “When the ruler imprisoned Mutarrif’s nephew, Mutarrif put on his most threadbare clothes, took up a staff, and said, ‘I will humble myself before my Lord; perhaps He will grant me intercession for my nephew.’” ⦗5⦘

Khalīfah ibn Khayyāṭ ⦗6⦘ stated: “Mutarrif died in the year 86 AH.”
Different dates have also been reported for his death, as mentioned earlier.