ʿUthmān ibn Saʿīd also reported on his authority: “Truthful, well-known—there is no one like him in Kūfah; whatever is said against him is said only out of envy.” (1)

Abū Ḥātim said: “I asked Ibn Maʿīn about him. He spoke of him in general terms of praise and said, ‘What fault does he have? He could recite his Musnad straight through—four thousand ḥadiths—without pause, and he could do the same with the reports of Sharīk, three thousand five hundred in all.’

“Abū Ḥātim then mentioned something close to ten thousand ḥadiths and concluded: ‘He was one of the traditionists.’ (2)

ʿAbd al-Khāliq ibn Manṣūr likewise transmitted from Ibn Maʿīn: “Truthful, reliable.” (3)

Aḥmad ibn Manṣūr al-Ramādī said: “In my estimation he is more trustworthy than Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah, and people criticize him only out of jealousy.” (4)

I say: Disparagement takes priority, and neither Aḥmad nor al-Dārimī are motivated by envy.

ʿUthmān ibn Saʿīd said: “Yaḥyā al-Himmanī was somewhat heedless; he could not safeguard himself as the ḥadith scholars do. A man might come and slander him—or, in another report, curse him—and might even strike him.” (5)

Aḥmad ibn Zuhayr related from Ibn Maʿīn: “In his day there was no one in Kūfah who matched his powers of memorization, and these people envy him.” (6)

I say: On the contrary—they are treating him fairly, whereas you have not.