He passed away in 192 AH; this was the view of Aḥmad, Ibn al-Muthannā, al-Ashajj, and Ibn Saʿd, the last of whom added that it was on the tenth of Dhū al-Ḥijjah.

One of the Qurʾān-reciters made a mistake, claiming that Ibn Idrīs had read to Ibn Kathīr, whereas he had neither met him nor even come close to doing so.

It is related—by a man reporting from Wakīʿ—that ʿAbd Allah ibn Idrīs refused the judgeship and said to al-Rashīd, “I am not fit for it.”

Al-Rashīd retorted, “I wish I had never set eyes on you.” Ibn Idrīs replied, “And I wish I had never seen you.” He then departed. The caliph subsequently appointed Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth and sent five thousand to Ibn Idrīs.

Ibn Idrīs said to the messenger—raising his voice at him—“Be off from here!”

Al-Rashīd then wrote to him: “You would not accept office for us, nor would you accept our gift; yet when my son al-Maʾmūn comes to you, narrate to him.” Ibn Idrīs replied, “If he comes with the regular gathering, I will narrate to him,” and he swore never to speak to Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth until the latter died. (1)

Abū Saʿīd al-Ashajj reported: Ibn Idrīs told us, “Al-Aʿmash said to me, ‘By Allah, I will not relate anything to you for a month.’ I responded, ‘By Allah, I will not come to you for a year.’ After a year I went to him, and he said, ‘Ibn Idrīs?’ I answered, ‘Yes.’ He remarked, ‘I like the Arab to have a bit of bitterness (grit).’” (2)

Ḥusayn ibn ʿAmr al-ʿAnqazī said: When death approached ʿAbd Allah ibn Idrīs, his daughter wept. He said, “Do not weep; in this very room I have completed the Qurʾān four thousand times.” (3)

Yaʿqūb ibn Shaybah said: I heard ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī criticizing the recitation