Maʿīn—al-Ashjaʿī related to us, on the authority of Mūsā, who transmitted from al-Ḥasan, who said:

“Of all people, a scholar’s own neighbours are the least appreciative of him; and the worst people toward a deceased person are his family: they lament him, yet they do not pay off his debts.”

137 – ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muṣʿab ibn Thābit al-Asadī al-Zubayrī *

He was the son of the caliph ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām, an eminent governor known as Abū Bakr al-Asadī al-Zubayrī, and the father of the historian Muṣʿab al-Zubayrī.

He transmitted from: Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah, Abū Ḥāzim, and Hishām ibn ʿUrwah.

Those who transmitted from him include: his son, Hishām ibn Yūsuf, and others.

He was handsome, noble, dignified, eloquent, and highly articulate, enjoying great prestige and a praiseworthy record in office. The caliph al-Mahdī both loved and respected him.

Hārūn al-Rashīd combined for him, in addition to Yemen, the governorship of Medina.

The vizier Abū ʿUbayd Allāh sent him two thousand dinars, but he refused, saying, “I will accept only from a caliph.”

Ibn Maʿīn considered him lenient in hadith.

Abū Ḥātim said, “He is of the same class as ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī al-Zinād.”

I (the author) say: He lived seventy years and died in 184 AH.