He is Abdullaah bin Mubarak bin Waadih al-Khurasaanee, Abu AbdirRahman, the Imam of Khurasan, a compendium of good traits.
Ibn Uyainah said: He was a jurist, scholar, ascetic, generous, courageous and a poet.
Imam Ahmad said: there was no one during the time of Ibn Mubarak who sought knowledge more than him; he journeyed to Yemen, Egypt, Greater Syria, Basra and Kufa. He was one of the transmitters of knowledge and he was capable of that. He wrote from the young and old, he compiled a great deal, there was no one with reduced slips than Ibn Mubarak. He used to narrate from his memory; he does not look into books.
He also said: Nobody came out of Khurasan like Ibn Mubarak.
The Imam, Sufyan Ath-thawree said: Ibn Mubarak is the most knowledge of the people of the West and East.
Ibn Uyainah said: Ibn Mubarak is the scholar of the West and East and what is between them.
Ibn Mahdi said: I have not seen anyone comparable to Ibn Mubarak. It was said to him: not even Sufyan or Shu’bah? He responded: not even Sufyan or Shu’bah.
Mu’tamar bin Sulaiman said: I have not seen the like of Ibn Mubarak, a quota with him is something that cannot be experienced with anyone.
Imam Abu Dawood at-Tayaalisee said: I have not seen anyone who gathered more than Ibn Mubarak.
Ibn Mahdi said: the Imams are four: ath-Thawree, Malik, Hammad bin Zayd and Ibn Mubarak.
Abu Ishaq al-Fazari said: Ibn Mubarak is the Imam of the Muslims.
Sufyan ath-Thawree said: If I strive my utmost to be upon what Ibn Mubarak is upon for three days in a year, I won’t be able to.
Ibn Uyainah said: your eyes will not see the like of Ibn Mubarak.
Aswad bin Saalim said: Ibn Mubarak was an Imam to be followed, he was one of the firmest people regarding the Sunnah. If you see a man maligning Ibn Mubarak with anything, he has imputed Islam.
Ibn Uyainah said: I considered the companions, I did not see any virtue for them over Ibn Mubarak but for their companionship of the Prophet and their battles with him.
Shuaib bin Harb said: Ibn Mubarak did not meet anyone except that he was more virtuous than him.
Al-Hasan bin Iyyash: Ibn Mubarak did not take to any field except that it occurs to you that his specialty was in it.
Ismaeel bin Iyyash said: there is no one on the surface of the earth like Ibn Mubarak and I don’t know that Allaah created an aspect of good except it is found in him.
Abdul Azeez bin Abee Ruzmah said: there is no aspect of righteousness except it is gathered in Ibn Mubarak: bashfulness, nobility, good character, good companionship, good association , asceticism, piety and the whole lot.
A group of companions of Ibn Mubarak gathered together and said: come along so we can enumerate the virtues of Ibn Mubarak; they said: he combined knowledge, understanding (fiqh), good manners, Arabic Grammar, Arabic Language, Asceticism, Poetry, Eloquence, Asceticism, Fairness, Qiyamul Layl, Acts of worship, Hajj, Battles, Bravery, horsemanship, Physical Strength, Refrainment from what will not benefit him and rarity of dissension from his companions.
Al-Abbaas bin Mus’ab said: Ibn Mubarak combined Hadeeth, Fiqh, Arabic Language, Bravery, Trade, Social issues, generosity and love from a broad spectrum.
Nua’ym bin Hammad said Ibn Mubarak said: My father said to me, if I find your books, I will surely burn them! So I told him, and how will that affect me while it is in my chest.
