—also known as Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Sarakhsī—was described as “an ocean of knowledge that brings no benefit.” He first served as al-Muʿtaḍid’s tutor, then became his boon companion, confidant, and adviser, enjoying great authority and distinction. A disciple of the philosopher Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq al-Kindī, he later had pupils such as Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq al-Mulḥamī, Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Azhar, the uncle of the author of al-Aghānī, and Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad the scribe.
In time al-Muʿtaḍid, roused for the sake of Allah, ordered al-Sarakhsī’s execution because of his philosophical leanings and unsound creed. It is said that al-Sarakhsī tried to exonerate himself, declaring, “I have sold all my books on philosophy, astrology, and speculative theology; nothing remains with me but works on fiqh and hadith.” After he left, al-Muʿtaḍid remarked, “By Allah, I know he is a heretic; what he has just done is sheer hypocrisy.”
Another report states that al-Muʿtaḍid said to him, “Because of your past services, choose how you wish us to kill you.” He chose to be fed roasted meat, plied with wine until intoxicated, and then have his forearms opened for blood-letting. The order was carried out: his blood was drained yet a spark of life still remained; yellow bile overwhelmed him, he went mad and screamed, butting the wall from the severity of the pain and running about incessantly until he died. This took place at the beginning of 286 AH.
- Ibn al-Durays, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ayyūb al-Rāzī
The hadith master, reliable and long-lived scholar, and prolific author: Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ayyūb ibn Yaḥyā ibn Ḍurays al-Bajalī, al-Rāzī, compiler of the work “The Virtues of the Quran.”