Some maintained that he lacked real professional aptitude, so he was bolstered by assistants and competent deputies. Yet he was exceptionally resourceful. Al-Muʿtazz exiled him, but when al-Muʿtamid ascended the throne he summoned him, clothed him in robes of honor, and the calamity had chastened him, leaving him far more refined. Many reports celebrate his forbearance and generosity. He died with a debt of six hundred thousand dinars, despite his numerous estates. One account adds that his servant Rashiq rammed into him during a game of ṣawālija (polo) (1); he fell and died that very day, in 263 AH (2).

His son, Abū ʿAlī Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd Allāh (3), later served as vizier, and his grandson, Abū al-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad (4), held the vizierate for al-Muqtadir in 312 AH. The latter died in 314 AH.

6 – Sammūyah, Abū Bishr Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Iṣbahānī*

A distinguished imam, hadith master, dependable authority, tireless traveler, and jurist: Abū Bishr Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd ibn Jubayr al-ʿAbdī al-Iṣbahānī, better known as Sammūyah, compiler of those useful fascicles whose contents testify to his remarkable memory and vast learning. He was born around 190 AH.