He died in 310 AH, and at that time he was the senior authority for hadith transmission in the Maghreb.

208 – Hāmid ibn al-ʿAbbās, Abū al-Faḍl al-Khurasānī*

The grand vizier Abū al-Faḍl al-Khurasānī—later known as al-ʿIrāqī—was one of the outstanding figures of his era, a man of courage and initiative, able both to undo and to ratify affairs.

Al-Ṣūlī said: He first held several important ṭasāsīj (1) of al-Sawād. He then assumed the farming of the land-tax of Basra and the districts along the Tigris, while overseeing Kaskar (2), for a period during the ministry of Ibn al-Furāt. He developed the land, treated the farmers kindly, and reduced their requisitions until he became to them like a father. His charity grew plentiful. Later he became vizier when he was already advanced in years.

I add: Before that he had supervised Fars. He was extremely wealthy and well attended, possessing four hundred armed mamluks, several of whom attained command. In 306 AH the caliph al-Muqtadir removed Ibn al-Furāt and installed Hāmid in his place. He arrived with great pomp and managed affairs, yet shortcomings appeared in his observance of the protocols of the vizierate and he showed a sharp temper. Consequently, ʿAlī ibn ʿĪsā the vizier was attached to him, after which matters proceeded smoothly.

Hāmid had a commendable hand in bringing about the execution of Ḥusayn al-Ḥallāj, which points to his sound faith and uprightness.

It is said that he was born in 223 AH. He heard hadith from ʿUthmān ibn Abī Shaybah, but he never transmitted anything.

(1) Administrative districts (sing. ṭasūj) of al-Sawād.
(2) A town on the Tigris, south-east of Baghdad.