Judge Ibn Khallikān reports that Ibn Ṭūlūn used to send Bakkār one thousand dinars every year, over and above his regular stipend, and Bakkār would leave the money with its seals intact. When Ibn Ṭūlūn summoned him to depose al-Muwaffaq, he demanded the whole sum back, so Bakkār brought it—eighteen sealed purses in all—whereupon Ibn Ṭūlūn felt ashamed. He then ordered him to hand the judgeship over to Muḥammad ibn Shādhān al-Jawharī; Bakkār complied and appointed him his deputy. From a small window in the prison he continued to transmit hadith, for the hadith scholars had requested this of Ibn Ṭūlūn, and he allowed it on that basis (1).

Ibn Khallikān also says: Bakkār was a constant reciter of the Quran, tender-hearted and prone to tears, upright and devout; his grave is well known and is famed as a place where prayers are answered (2).

Al-Ṭaḥāwī remarks: He showed the utmost thankfulness for the office he held, and Ibn Ṭūlūn treated him with the greatest respect and reverence until he wanted him to depose al-Muwaffaq. When he realized that his plan would not succeed, he incited the rabble against him (3) and set them up as his opponents. Someone would sit before him as a claimant and he would not refuse, but would rise to defend himself with sound argument. He was then confined in a house; every Friday he would dress for the prayer and walk to the door, and the guards assigned to him (4) would say, “Go back.” He would reply, “O Allah, bear witness.”

Abū ʿUmar al-Kindī said: “Bakkār arrived as judge, appointed by al-Mutawakkil, in Jumada—”