Mansur ibn Abi Muzahim said: I heard Sharik speaking in the assembly of Abu ʿUbayd Allah—the vizier of al-Mahdi—in which were present al-Hasan ibn Zayd ibn al-Hasan, the father of Musʿab al-Zubayri, Ibn Abi Musa, and other notables. They began discussing nabidh (fermented drink). The Iraqis who were present granted it license, while the others took a stricter view. Sharik then said:

“Abu Ishaq narrated to us, from ʿAmr ibn Maymun, who said:
Umar remarked, ‘We eat the meat of these camels, and nothing dissolves it in our stomachs except this strong nabidh.’ (1)”

Al-Hasan ibn Zayd objected, reciting, “We have never heard of this in the last religion; this is nothing but an invention” (Q 38:7).

Sharik replied, “Indeed! Your habit of sitting on velvet cushions at the head of gatherings has kept you from hearing this and similar reports.”

Al-Hasan offered no response.

The company fell silent. Later they resumed the discussion of nabidh, while Sharik remained quiet. Abu ʿUbayd Allah said to him, “Relate to us, Abu ʿAbd Allah, what you have.”

He answered, “No. Hadith is too dear to its people to be exposed to denial.”

Someone remarked, “Sufyan al-Thawri used to drink it.” Another said, “No, we have heard that Sufyan abandoned it.”

Sharik said, “I myself saw him drink it in the house of the finest man in Kufa of his time, Malik ibn Mighwal.”

ʿIsa ibn Yunus stated, “I have never seen anyone more scrupulous in his knowledge than Sharik.”

Muhammad ibn Muʿawiyah al-Naysaburi said: I heard ʿAbbad say, “Maʿmar and Sharik came to us in Wasit, and Sharik carried greater weight with us than he did.”

ʿAbbas reported: I mentioned Israʾil and Sharik to Ibn Maʿin, and he said, “There is nothing among them but reliability.” He added, “Sharik is more reliable than Abu al-Ahwas.” Then I heard