the history and chronicles of nations), and he also composed a work entitled Kitab al-Tafsir, the like of which had never been produced. He wrote another book that he called Tahdhib al-Athar; I have seen nothing comparable to it in its field, though he did not finish it. In addition, he authored numerous volumes—both in the principles and the branches of jurisprudence—gathering the positions of the jurists, and he advanced distinctive legal questions that have been preserved from him.

I (the author) say: He was reliable, truthful, an unrivalled memoriser, a leading authority in Qur’anic exegesis, an imam in jurisprudence, consensus, and disagreement, a master of history and the chronicles of people, and well-versed in the variant readings and in the Arabic language, among other sciences.

He recited the Qur’an in Beirut to al-ʿAbbas ibn al-Walid.

Abu Muhammad ʿAbd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Jaʿfar al-Farghani reported that his birthplace was Amul.

It is related that the caliph al-Muktafi wished to dedicate an endowment whose regulations would earn the unanimous approval of the scholars, so he summoned Ibn Jarir, who dictated for them a treatise to that end. A monetary reward was then presented to him, but he refused to accept it. When he was told, “Some request of yours must be granted,” he replied, “I ask the Commander of the Faithful to forbid begging on Fridays,” and the caliph did so.

Likewise, the vizier requested him to write a book on jurisprudence, whereupon he authored for him the work al-Khafif. The vizier sent him one thousand dinars, but he returned them.

Al-Khatib said: Abu al-Faraj Muhammad ibn ʿUbayd Allah al-Shirazi al-Kharjushi narrated to me: I heard Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Shirazi say, “I heard Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Sahhaf al-Sijistani say, ‘I heard Abu al-ʿAbbas al-Bakri say:

“The scholarly journey brought together Ibn Jarir, Ibn Khuzaymah, Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazi, and Muhammad ibn Harun al-Ruwayani in Egypt. They became destitute, having nothing left with which to sustain themselves, and hunger grievously afflicted them. One night they gathered in a house where they used to lodge, and they agreed to draw lots…’”