al-Samari al-Basri was given a biography by al-Hafiz in al-Lisan, in which he cited a number of reliable ḥadith masters who narrated from him and said, “I know of no criticism against him.” Al-Dhahabi wrote in al-Mushabih: “He is well-known.” The remaining men in the chain are trustworthy. The report is found in al-Bayhaqi, p. 412–413.

44 – al-Khuraybi, one of the leading authorities on tradition (126–213 AH)

192 – ‘Ali ibn al-Rabi‘ al-Bazzar said: “I came to Bishr ibn al-Harith and asked, ‘Abu Nasr, have you heard anything on the Qur’an?’ He replied, ‘I asked ‘Abd Allah ibn Dawud al-Khuraybi about it, and he recited to me the closing verses of Surah al-Hashr: He is Allah—there is no deity but He (Q 59:22). Then he said, ‘Is this created? God forbid!’”

168 – I remark: Its chain is weak. ‘Ali ibn Abi al-Rabi‘—al-Khatib said in his Tarikh (11/426), “He heard from Bishr ibn al-Harith, and Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Muqri‘, known as Dubays, narrated from him.” I add: Dubays was given a biography by al-Khatib (4/88), who said, “He narrates objectionable ḥadith; I read in al-Darqutni’s own handwriting: not reliable.”

193 – ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Asma’ reported that al-Khuraybi said: “While I was walking in Abadan, reflecting to myself on the issue of the Qur’an’s creation, someone seized me from behind, shook me, and said, ‘Son of Dawud, stand firm, for the speech of Allah is uncreated.’ I turned, but saw no one.”

169 – I remark: Ibn Asma’ is a trustworthy, eminent narrator cited by al-Bukhari and Muslim. If the chain to him is sound, the report is authentic, though I have not yet located it.

45 – ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Ja‘far al-Razi

194 – Ṣalih ibn al-Ḍurays said: “‘Abd Allah began striking the head of a relative of his who held that view…”