(1) Ahmad b. al-Faraj b. Sulayman al-Kindi al-Himsi, known as Abu ‘Utba and nicknamed al-Hijazi al-Mu’adhdhin (the caller to prayer). He traveled extensively, specialized in hadith studies, and lived to an advanced age, though his reliability is considered average. References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (12/584); al-ʿIbar (2/49). (2) Sulaiman b. Sayf b. Yahya b. Dirham, Abu Dawud al-Har­rani al-Taʾi, the mawla of that tribe. He was the leading muhaddith of Harran and its senior authority. al-Nasa’i transmitted many reports from him and deemed him trustworthy. References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (13/147); al-ʿIbar (2/50). (3) Abu Ayyub al-Harithi, a minister and senior scribe in the chancery of Syria and Iraq. He wrote for al-Maʾmun in his youth, served as vizier under al-Muhtadi bi-llah and al-Muʿtamid ʿala llah, but fell into disfavor under al-Muwaffaq bi-llah, who imprisoned him; he died in custody. He authored a Diwan of Letters. References: Wafayāt al-A‘yān (2/415); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (13/127). (4) al-Kāmil by Ibn al-Athir, vol. 7, p. 421 (edition: Shu‘ba). (5) In al-Uṣūl and the printed editions read “and nicknamed Mukhalla,” corrected here from the biographical sources. He is Abu Bakr al-Anmati al-Baghdadi, a traveling muhaddith, a meticulous memorizer and reliable authority. He died in Mecca. His epithet was Kaylaja, as given by Yahya b. Muʿin. References: Tārīkh Baghdad (4/203); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (12/606); al-ʿIbar (2/50). (6) Muhammad b. ʿAbd al-Wahhab b. Habib b. Mihran al-Abdi al-Farrāʾ al-Nīshāpūrī, also known as Hamak, Abu Ahmad. A distinguished scholar, muhaddith and litterateur, he was foremost among the scholars of Nishapur in intellect, learning, dignity and piety. al-Hakim reports that people referred legal, hadith and Arabic questions to him. He died at over ninety years of age. References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (12/606); al-ʿIbar (2/50). (7) Muhammad b. ʿUbayd Allāh b. Yazid, Abu Jaʿfar, known as Ibn al-Munādi al-Baghdadi, a trustworthy muhaddith. He died at the age of one hundred years and four months. References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (12/555); al-ʿIbar (2/50). (8) Abu Jaʿfar al-Taʾi, a muhaddith of Homs, both memorizer and reciter of hadith, counted among the imams of hadith. References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (12/613); al-ʿIbar (2/50). (9) For further details, see: al-Fihrist (1/277); Wafayāt al-A‘yān (1/358); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubalaʾ (13/161); Shadharāt al-Dhahab (2/161); al-A‘lām (al-Zarkālī) (2/127).