Qāsim ibn Aṣbagh said, “I heard Ibn Qutaybah remark:
‘I have produced more compilations than Abū ʿUbayd; he has twenty-two works, whereas I have twenty-seven.’

Qāsim continued, “He also authored a book on fiqh, and he has transmitted a large number of reports from Ibn Rāhwayh.”

Someone asked Ibn Aṣbagh, “Was his book on fiqh circulated and relied upon?”

He replied, “No, by Allah. I discussed the matter with al-Ṭabarī and Ibn Surayj—both men of keen analytical reasoning—and I said, ‘How do you rate Ibn Qutaybah’s work on fiqh?’ They answered, ‘It is worthless, and so is Abū ʿUbayd’s book on fiqh. Just look at his book al-Amwāl, the best of all his writings: even that was built on no firm principles, and he reasoned with unsound evidence.

These men are simply not suited to this discipline. At best their command of language may be correct; but if you seek fiqh, then turn to the writings of al-Shāfiʿī, Dāwūd, and their peers (1).’ ”

Qāsim ibn Aṣbagh added, “We were once sitting with Ibn Qutaybah when some people came to him carrying their inkwells. He said, ‘O Allah, keep us safe from them!’ They sat down and said, ‘Narrate to us—may Allah have mercy on you.’ He replied, ‘I am not one of those who transmit ḥadīth; I only have these written compilations. Whoever wishes may take from them.’

They said to him, ‘That is not permissible for you. Impart to us what you possess from Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh, for among his contemporaries we find no one comparable to you, and you…’