Ibn al-Jawzi relates in al-Muntaẓam (1), and Ibn al-Athir in al-Kamil (2), that in this very year a mound in the Basran region known as Tall Shaqīq split open, revealing seven tombs the size of a large basin. Within them lay seven bodies, all intact, and their shrouds gave off the fragrance of musk. One of the seven was a youth with thick hair; his lips were moist as though he had just drunk water, his eyes appeared to be darkened with kohl, and he bore a wound in his side. One of the onlookers tried to take a lock of his hair, but it was as strong as that of a living person.

[Among the notable deaths in this year]

Aḥmad ibn Ḥāzim ibn Abī Gharaza (3), the ḥāfiẓ, possessor of the famous Musnad. He transmitted a large body of hadith with elevated chains.

Baqiyy ibn Makhlad (4), Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Andalusī, the eminent ḥāfiẓ, [compiler of] (5) the Musnad arranged by juristic topics. In it he narrated from 1,600 Companions. Ibn Ḥazm considered it superior to the Musnad of Imām Aḥmad, yet I view the matter differently, for the apparent truth is that Aḥmad’s Musnad is sounder and more comprehensive. [The work was simply unknown in their lands, nor did they have its transmission; had they examined it and seen what it contained, they would not have preferred any other Musnad to it—unless Baqiyy had heard the entire Musnad from Aḥmad and then added to it, much as Allah has enabled us to append additional material to the Musnad of Imām Aḥmad. All praise and bounty belong to Allah forever.] (6)

Baqiyy travelled to Iraq and heard hadith from Imām Aḥmad and more than 234 other scholars there and elsewhere. He also authored additional works.

Alongside this, he was a righteous, devout, and ascetic man whose supplications were answered. Al-Qushayrī reports that a woman once came to him and said, “The Franks have taken my son captive. I spend my nights sleepless with longing for him. I own a small house that I wish to sell so I may ransom him (7). If you would kindly direct me to someone who might buy it, I have neither day nor night, [nor sleep] (8), nor patience, nor rest.” He replied, “Very well; go back for now, and we shall look into the matter, if Allah wills.”