at length in al-Mīzān (1). They judged him weak. He narrated from Layth ibn Abī Sulaym and a number of others, while among those who reported from him are Yaḥyā ibn Ghailān, Dāwūd ibn al-Muḥabbar, and others besides. He was even accused (2).

Al-Aṣmaʿī said: Hārūn al-Rashīd once asked me, “What is the largest amount Maysarah ever consumed?” I answered, “One hundred loaves and half a makkūk of salt.” Al-Rashīd thereupon ordered that a hundred loaves be thrown to an elephant, and the elephant left one loaf uneaten.

It is also related that some pranksters said to him, “Would you care for a roasted ram?” He replied, “I have no objection.” He dismounted from his donkey, whereupon they took the donkey away and, after he had grown hungry, brought him the roast. He began to eat, saying, “Is this elephant meat? No, it is the meat of a devil!” When he had finished, he asked for his donkey. They burst out laughing and said, “By Allah, it is in your belly.” They then collected its price for him.

Another report states that a woman vowed to satisfy his hunger; out of kindness to her, he ate only the amount that would feed seventy men.