—than he does, for she narrated—as we have mentioned—from Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr, and it is soundly established that Ibn Isḥāq heard from her, something of which Hishām had no knowledge.

So is a truthful man to be declared a liar on the strength of such flimsy talk? Never, by Allah! We seek Allah’s protection from whim and obstinate denial. Rather, Judge Abū Yūsuf spoke the truth when he said: “Whoever pursues singular (gharīb) reports will himself be deemed unreliable.” This is one of Ibn Isḥāq’s gravest faults: he would write from anyone and showed no restraint—may Allah pardon him.

Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd reported: I said to Hishām, “Ibn Isḥāq is narrating from Fāṭimah bint al-Mundhir.” He replied, “Could he even reach her?” I said, “It is possible that she was one of Ibn Isḥāq’s foster aunts, so he was allowed to enter upon her while Hishām did not know that she was his aunt, whether maternal or paternal.”

Yaḥyā ibn Ādam narrated to us: Ibn Idrīs said, “I was with Mālik when a man said to him, ‘Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq claims, “Bring me Mālik’s knowledge, for I am its veterinarian (bayṭār).”’ Mālik exclaimed, ‘Look at this charlatan of the charlatans who says, “Bring me Mālik’s knowledge.”’ Ibn Idrīs added, ‘I never saw anyone use the plural “charlatans” (dajjālīn) before him.’

Ibn al-Khallāl informed us; Jaʿfar narrated to us; al-Salafī narrated to us; Ibn Māk (1) narrated to us; al-Khalīlī narrated to us: I heard my grandfather, and al-Qāsim ibn ʿAlqamah—we heard Ibn Abī Ḥātim; I heard Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj; he narrated to us from Ibn Rāhwayh; I heard Yaḥyā ibn Ādam; I heard Ibn Idrīs say: ‘I was with Mālik when a man said, “I was in Rayy with Abū ʿUbayd Allah, the vizier of al-Mahdī, and Ibn Isḥāq declared, ‘Come, set before me Mālik’s disciplines, for I am the one to vet them.’” Mālik retorted, “A charlatan from among the charlatans says such a thing!” Ibn Idrīs said, “I have never heard the plural form of dajjāl except from him.”’

(1) Ibn Māk.