I also heard him say: “I was once in al-Firyābī’s gathering when he reported, ‘Sufyān narrated to us, from Abū ʿUrwah, from Abū al-Khaṭṭāb, from Anas, that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would visit all of his wives after a single ritual bath.’ (1)

No one present knew who Abū ʿUrwah or Abū al-Khaṭṭāb were, so I remarked, ‘Abū ʿUrwah is Maʿmar, and Abū al-Khaṭṭāb is Qatādah.’ He said, ‘Al-Thawrī used to do this frequently; he would mention well-known narrators only by their kunyas.’

Muḥammad ibn Abī Ḥātim relates: Rajāʾ the ḥāfiẓ arrived and came to Abū ʿAbd Allāh. He said to him, ‘When news of my arrival reached you, what did you prepare, and what have you been reviewing?’

Abū ʿAbd Allāh answered, ‘I engaged in no fresh study and made no preparation. If you wish to ask about something, then go ahead.’

So Rajāʾ began debating him on various issues, until he was left completely at a loss. Then Abū ʿAbd Allāh said, ‘Would you like some more?’ Out of modesty and embarrassment he replied, ‘Yes.’

Abū ʿAbd Allāh said, ‘Ask if you wish.’ Rajāʾ then moved on to the transmitters named Ayyūb, listing about thirteen of them while Abū ʿAbd Allāh remained silent. When he finished, Abū ʿAbd Allāh said, ‘You have gathered a few.’ Rajāʾ, thinking he had achieved something, replied, ‘Abū ʿAbd Allāh, you have missed a great deal.’

Abū ʿAbd Allāh, however, disproved seven or eight of the names he had given and then supplied him with more than sixty additional, rarer ones.

Rajāʾ next asked, ‘How many reports have you transmitted concerning the black turban?’

Abū ʿAbd Allāh said, ‘Very well—how many have you transmitted?’

He replied, ‘We relate about forty.’