Mūsā ibn Dāwūd said, “I heard Mālik relate: ‘Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr came to us in the year 150 AH and said, “O Mālik, the grey in your hair has increased!” I replied, “Indeed, Commander of the Believers; when many years pass over a man, his grey hairs multiply.” He then asked, “Why do I see you relying on the opinion of Ibn ʿUmar over that of the other Companions?” I said, “He was the last of the Companions to remain among us; the people needed him, so they questioned him and clung to his view.”’

ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī listed Nāfiʿ’s students, saying, “Mālik—renowned for his precision; Ayyūb—for his excellence; and ʿUbayd Allah—for his powers of memorization.”

Ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥakam reported: “I heard al-Shāfiʿī say: ‘Muḥammad (meaning Ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī) asked me, “Which of the two is more learned—our scholar or yours?”—referring to Abū Ḥanīfa and Mālik. I said, “Shall we speak with fairness?” He replied, “Yes.” I said, “I adjure you by Allah: who has greater knowledge of the Qur’an?” He answered, “Your scholar.” I asked, “Who has greater knowledge of the Sunnah?” He said, “Your scholar.” I asked, “Who is better informed about the statements of the Companions and the early authorities?” He said, “Your scholar.” I said, “Then nothing remains but analogy (qiyās), and analogy can only be built upon those foundations. If a person is ignorant of the roots, upon what will he base his analogy?” (1)’”

I observe: In all fairness, were someone to say, “Rather, the two are equal in their knowledge of the Book; the first excels in analogy, and the second excels in the Sunnah while possessing abundant knowledge….”