“…‘The wasp stings more painfully than the bee; yet lo—it is that very same one.’

Sibawayh retorted, “The example is not put that way; rather one should say: ‘…and yet lo—it is she.’”

They disputed at length, and the gathering sided with al-Kisāʾī against him. Afterwards, Yaḥyā rewarded him with ten thousand, whereupon he travelled to the lands of Persia and—so it is said—died in Shiraz. He had set out with the intention of visiting the emir Ṭalḥah ibn Ṭāhir al-Khuzaʿī.

It was also said that, for all his remarkable intelligence, he was somewhat tongue-tied in speech while his pen flowed unhindered.

Ibrāhīm al-Ḥarbī said: “He was nicknamed Sibawayh because his two cheeks were like apples, wondrously beautiful.”

Abū Zayd al-Anṣārī said: “Sibawayh used to attend my session wearing two sidelocks, and whenever he said, ‘Someone I trust has related to me,’ he meant me.”

Al-ʿAishī (1) said: “We used to sit with Sibawayh in the mosque. He was a handsome, well-groomed young man who had taken a portion of every science and claimed a share in every branch of letters despite his tender years.” (2)

It was said that he lived thirty-two years; others said about forty. One report states that he died in 180 AH, and that is the soundest view; another places his death in 188 AH.