Ibn al-Madini said, “Sufyan remained in hiding for about a year.

Yahya al-Qattan stated, “He died at the beginning of 161 AH.”

I say: The sound position is that he passed away in Sha‘ban of that same year. Al-Waqidi dated it likewise, whereas Khalifah erred and claimed he died in 162 AH.

Yusuf ibn Asbat related, “I saw al-Thawri in a dream and asked him, ‘Which deed did you find to be the best?’ He replied, ‘The Quran.’ I said, ‘And hadith?’ Whereupon he turned his face away.”

Bakr ibn Khalaf said, “Muʿammal narrated to us: ‘I saw Sufyan in a dream and asked, “Abu ʿAbd Allah, what did you find most beneficial?” He answered, “Hadith.”’”

Suʿayr ibn al-Khims said, “I saw Sufyan in a dream flying from one palm tree to another while reciting, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to us’ (Q 39:74).”

Abu Usamah recounted, “On the morning after the night Sufyan died, I met Yazid ibn Ibrahim. He told me, ‘Last night I was informed in my dream: The Commander of the Believers has died. I asked the one speaking in the dream, “Has Sufyan al-Thawri died?” He replied, “Yes” (1).’”

Musʿab ibn al-Miqdam said, “I saw the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—in a dream holding Sufyan al-Thawri by the hand and rewarding him with good.”

Abu Saʿid al-Ashajj reported: “Ibrahim ibn Aʿyan told us, ‘I saw Sufyan ibn Saʿid and asked him, “What has become of you?” He said, “I am with the angelic scribes, the noble and righteous (2).”’”

The biography is now complete, and all praise belongs to Allah.