Aḥmad ibn Abī Khaythama said: I heard Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn mention the companions of Sufyān and say, “They number five: Ibn al-Mubārak”—and he named him first—“then Wakīʿ, Yaḥyā, Ibn Mahdī, and Abū Nuʿaym.” (1)

Jaʿfar ibn Abī ʿUthmān said: I asked Ibn Maʿīn, “If al-Qaṭṭān and Wakīʿ disagree, whose position is adopted?” He answered, “The view is that of Yaḥyā.” I said, “And if ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and Yaḥyā differ?” He replied, “One would need someone to decide between them.” I asked, “And Abū Nuʿaym versus ʿAbd al-Raḥmān?” He said, “One would need someone to decide between them.” I said, “What of al-Ashjaʿī?” He replied, “Al-Ashjaʿī has died, and his hadith died with him.” I said, “And Ibn al-Mubārak?” He said, “He is the Commander of the Believers in hadith.” (2)

Mahmūd ibn Wālan related: I heard Muḥammad ibn Mūsā say, “I heard Ibrāhīm ibn Mūsā say: I was with Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn when a man came and asked, ‘Who is more reliable in transmitting from Maʿmar, Ibn al-Mubārak or ʿAbd al-Razzaq?’ Yaḥyā was reclining, but he sat up and said, ‘Ibn al-Mubārak was better than ʿAbd al-Razzaq and the people of his village. ʿAbd Allah was a noble among the nobles of the Muslims.’ ” (3)

Ibrāhīm al-Ḥarbī was asked, “When Maʿmar’s students differ, whose narration is accepted?” He replied, “The verdict is that of Ibn al-Mubārak.”

Al-Daghūlī reported: Yaḥyā ibn Zakariyyā told us, Muḥammad ibn al-Naḍr ibn Musāwir told us, saying: My father said, “I asked Ibn al-Mubārak, ‘Do you commit hadith to memory?’ His complexion changed and he replied, ‘I have never deliberately memorised a hadith; I simply take a book, glance through it, and whatever I find attractive clings to my heart.’ ” (4)