The jurist-judge Abū al-Ḥasan Ibn al-Qaṭṭān al-Fāsī (1) said: “Abū Jaʿfar al-ʿUqaylī is reliable, of eminent stature, learned in ḥadith, and pre-eminent in memorization.” (2)

He also said: “He died in the year 322 AH.” (3)

Aḥmad ibn Salāmah informed us, on the authority of Yaḥyā ibn Bawsh, from Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-ʿAtīqī—and the Chief Judge Muḥammad ibn al-Muẓaffar al-Shāmī al-Ḥamawī likewise heard it from al-ʿAtīqī—while Yūsuf ibn al-Dakhīl narrated to us, as did Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr al-ʿUqaylī the ḥāfiẓ, and Abū Yaḥyā ibn Abī Masrah, who said: Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr told me, saying that Ibn al-Sammāk related:

“I set out for Mecca and, at al-Qādisiyyah, I was met by Zurārah ibn Aʿyan (4). He said to me, ‘I have a favor to ask of you, and I hope you can carry it out for me,’ and he made it sound weighty. I asked, ‘What is it?’

He replied, ‘When you meet Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad (5), convey my greetings to him and ask him to tell me whether I belong to the people of Paradise or the people of Hell.’ I voiced my disapproval.

He said, ‘He knows that.’ He kept pressing me until I agreed.

When I met Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad I informed him of what had taken place. He said, ‘He is among the people of Hell.’ Something about his words disturbed me (6), so I asked, ‘How did you come to know that?’ He replied, ‘Whoever claims—’