(1) The eminent scholar Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak ibn Wadih al-Hanzali al-Tamimi, their client, al-Marwazi, Abu Abd al-Rahman, was the leading authority of his age in knowledge, piety, virtue, and leadership. He is counted among the most famous and reliable hadith masters. Ibn Uyayna said of him: “He was a jurist, learned, devout, ascetic, venerable, courageous, and a poet.” He was also generous and sincere toward the Muslim community, and one of its dignitaries. He died in Hit on his return from jihad in 181/797 at the age of sixty-three. See: Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 5:382–87, no. 657. (2) The nisba “Kirmani” may refer either to the land of Kirman south-east of Iraq or to the Kirman located in India. See: Mu jam al-Buldan, vol. 4, pp. 454–55. (3) Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Harun, Abu Bakr al-Khallal; his biography appeared above (p. 206). See: Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi, p. 618. (4) Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Kathir ibn Zayd al-Dawraqi al-Nakri, of Baghdad, was a trustworthy hadith master and one of the senior companions of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal from whom he transmitted extensively. He died in 246/860. See: Taqrib al-Tahdhib 1:9–10, no. 3-A; Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi, p. 610. (5) Sabti sandals (al-ni al-sabtiyya) are so called from sabt, meaning cowhide tanned with qirad (acacia), or, more generally, any hide tanned with qirad. See: Al-Qamus al-Muhit 1:154, section “sin,” chapter “ta.” Copy J reads: al-sabita.