He also learned Qurʾānic recitation from a number of teachers. He compiled a book on the variant readings that contains many irregularities, and he was known for transmitting unusual reports in ḥadith.

Among those who narrated from him were: Muslim, al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Aḥmad ibn Zuhayr, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ṣāʿid, Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Ḥaḍramī, ʿUmar ibn Bujayr, Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Jarawī, al-Ḥusayn al-Maḥāmilī, and others.

Aḥmad al-ʿIjlī said: “There is no problem with him; he is a man of the Qurʾān. He studied under Sulaym and served as judge of al-Madāʾin.”

Al-Bukhārī said: “I found them unanimously regarding him as weak.”

Ibn ʿUqda reported: “Mutayyan narrated to us, from Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Numayr, that Abū Hishām used to steal ḥadith.” (1)

Abū Ḥātim transmitted from Ibn Numayr, who said: “He was the least diligent of us in pursuing knowledge and the most given to odd narrations.” (2)

Ṭalḥah ibn Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar said: “Abū Hishām was appointed judge—meaning in Baghdad—in the year 242 AH. He was a man devoted to the Qurʾān, knowledge, fiqh, and ḥadith. He has a book on the variant readings; Ibn Ṣāʿid recited most of it to us.”

Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Muḥriz said: “I asked Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn about Abū Hishām, and he replied, ‘I see nothing wrong with him.’” (3)