ʿAbbās ad-Dūrī reported: Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn narrated to us, saying,
“This is the letter of Mālik to al-Layth which ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ transmitted to us. In it he writes: ‘You enjoy a position of leadership, excellence, and distinction among the people of your city; those around you are in need of you and rely upon whatever reaches them from you.’ ”

Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Wahb said: I heard al-Shāfiʿī declare, “Al-Layth is more learned in fiqh than Mālik, but his students did not uphold his school (1).”

Abū Zurʿah ar-Rāzī said: I heard Yaḥyā ibn Bukayr say, “Al-Layth surpasses Mālik in jurisprudence, yet the favor and prominence went to Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him. (2)”

Ḥarmlah said: I heard al-Shāfiʿī remark, “Al-Layth follows the transmitted reports more closely than Mālik.”

ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī stated, “Al-Layth is firmly reliable.”

Abū Ḥātim said, “He is dearer to me than Mufaḍḍal ibn Faḍālah. (3)”

Abū Dāwūd related: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn told me that he heard Aḥmad say, “Al-Layth is trustworthy, though he shows a certain lenience in what he accepts.”

Yaḥyā ibn Bukayr reported that al-Layth said, “Al-Manṣūr asked me, ‘Will you take charge of Egypt for me?’ I requested to be excused. He then said, ‘Since you refuse, point me to a man whom I may appoint over Egypt.’ I replied, ‘ʿUthmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Judhāmī—a righteous man with a supportive clan.’ When ʿUthmān heard of this, he vowed before Allah never to speak to al-Layth again.”