He narrated from his master, ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, and from a number of Companions—among them Rāfiʿ ibn Khadīj, Abū Saʿīd, Abū Hurayrah, Umm Salamah, and others. A large group of Successors and later scholars transmitted from him. He was counted among the trustworthy and distinguished authorities, the eminent Imams.

Al-Bukhārī said: “The soundest chain of transmission is Mālik → Nāfiʿ → Ibn ʿUmar.” (1)

Other scholars added that ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz had sent him to Egypt to teach the people the sunnah. More than one leading Imam praised him and declared him reliable.

He died in this year, according to the most widely accepted view.

Dhu al-Rumma the poet (2)—whose name was Ghailān ibn ʿUqbah ibn Buhaish (3) of the clan of ʿAbd Manāh ibn Udd ibn Tābikhah ibn Ilyās ibn Muḍar, known as Abū al-Ḥārith—was one of the outstanding pre-Islamic-style poets. He left a celebrated dīwān. He used to compose love poems about Mayy bint Muqātil ibn Ṭalbah ibn Qays ibn ʿĀṣim al-Minqarī. She was beautiful, whereas he was ugly of form and dark-skinned. No indecency or lewdness ever occurred between them, and they never actually met: she only heard of him, and he of her.

It is said that she vowed that if she ever saw him she would slaughter a camel. When she finally did see him, she exclaimed, “What a disgrace!” and never again showed him her face except on that single occasion. He thereupon recited:

On Mayy’s face there shines a hint of sweetness,
yet beneath her garments lies shame, were it to appear.

He then said: “She slipped out of her clothes,” and continued:

Have you not noticed that water’s taste turns bitter
even though its color remains white and clear?

She retorted, “Do you wish to taste its flavor?” He answered, “Yes, by Allah.” She replied, “Then taste death before you taste it.” He then recited:

Alas for the poetry now gone, carried off with Mayy,
while I had no power over my heart’s bewilderment! (4)

Ibn Khallikān (5) said: Among the verses of his that circulate widely is the following: