ibn Abi Kathir. We would relate a ḥadith to him in the morning; when we returned toward evening, he would relate it back to us.
It is also reported that Yahya ibn Abi Kathir stayed in Medina for ten years seeking knowledge.
Al-Fallas said: “He died in 129 AH.”
- Yazid ibn Abi Habib al-Azdi, their client, the Egyptian (ʿ)
The imam, the authoritative scholar and mufti of the Egyptian lands, Abu Rajaʾ al-Azdi, their freedman, the Egyptian.
It was said that his father, Suwayd, was the client of a woman who in turn was a client of Banū Hasl, and his mother was a freedwoman of the Tujīb tribe.
He was born sometime after 50 AH, during the reign of Muʿawiyah, and he belongs to the younger tier of the Successors.
He transmitted from: ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Harith ibn Jazʾ al-Zubaidi—the Companion; Abu al-Khayr Marthad ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Yazani; Abu al-Tufayl al-Laythi (if that chain is sound); Saʿid ibn Abi Hind; ʿIkrimah; ʿAtaʾ; ʿAli ibn Rabah; ʿIraq ibn Malik; ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb; Nafiʿ; Abu Wahb al-Jayshani; Ibrahim ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Hunayn; Aslam Abu ʿImran al-Tujibi; al-Harith ibn Yaʿqub; Suwayd ibn Qays; ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Shimasah; ʿIsa ibn Talhah ibn ʿUbayd Allah; Lahiʿah ibn ʿUqbah—the father of ʿAbd Allah; Muhammad ibn ʿAmr ibn Halhalah; Muhammad ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿAtaʾ; al-Haytham ibn Shufay; and many others.
He even narrated from al-Zuhri on the basis of a written authorization (ijazah).
He was counted among the eminent scholars who put their knowledge into practice; his piety elevated him despite his being a black client.
Among those who narrated from him were: Sulayman al-Taymi, Zayd ibn Abi Unaysah, Muhammad ibn Ishaq, ʿAbd al-Hamid ibn Jaʿfar, ʿAmr ibn al-Harith, ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAyyash al-Qitbani, and Haywah ibn