They said: He was soft-spoken, kept clear of political turmoil, yet never abandoned the duty of commanding right and forbidding wrong, and he never spoke of his own praiseworthy qualities.

Once he noticed a certain governor wearing a silk robe (1) and censured him. The governor replied, “I only put it on because of these people,” pointing to ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān, the Commander of the Believers. Ibn Muhayriz retorted, “Never let the fear of any human being equal your fear of Allah.”

Al-Awzāʿī said, “Whoever is seeking a model to follow should follow a man like him, for Allah does not let a nation go astray so long as it has someone like him.” (2)

Some maintained that he died during the reign of al-Walīd. Khalīfah ibn Khayyāṭ stated that his death occurred in the days of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, while al-Dhahabī recorded in al-Iʿlām that he passed away this very year—and Allah, exalted is He, knows best.

On another occasion Ibn Muhayriz entered a cloth-seller’s shop to buy a garment, and the merchant raised the price. The shopkeeper’s neighbor said, “Shame on you! This is Ibn Muhayriz—reduce it for him.” Ibn Muhayriz took his servant’s hand and said, “Let us leave; we came to buy with our money, not with our religion.” He then departed, leaving the merchant behind. (3)

Mahmūd ibn Labīd ibn ʿUqbah (4), Abū Naʿīm al-Anṣārī al-Ashhalī, was born during the Prophet’s lifetime ﷺ. He transmitted several hadiths from him, yet they are legally treated as mursal.

Al-Bukhārī said, “He was a Companion.” Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr remarked, “He was older (5) than Mahmūd ibn al-Rabīʿ.” Some said he died in 96 AH; others said 97 AH. Al-Dhahabī noted in al-Iʿlām that his death occurred this very year, and Allah knows with certainty.

Nāfiʿ ibn Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim (6) ibn ʿAdī ibn Nawfal, a Qurashī of the Nawfal clan from Medina.