Ibn Qutayba

Abdallah ibn Muslim ibn Qutayba al-Dinawari, author of Adab al-Katib (The Literary Education of the Secretary). ²

Ibn al-Jawzi says that he was Abu Muhammad, the Marwazi secretary, and that he was also called al-Dinawari because he lived in Dinawar for a time. He settled in Baghdad and transmitted there from Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, Abu Hatim and others. Ibn al-Jawzi describes him as a trustworthy, pious and excellent scholar. His works include Gharib al-Qur'an (The Rare Words of the Qur'an), Gharib al-Hadith, Mushkil al-Qur'an (The Difficulties of the Qur'an), Mushkil al-Hadith, al-Ma'arif, Adab al-Katib and 'Uyun al-Akhbar (The Choice Reports). ³

Ibn al-Jawzi relates from Ibn al-Munadi and others that he gave a loud cry, then fainted and died, on the first night of Rajab 276 AH. ³

Al-Mas'udi accuses him of taking from the book of Abu Hanifa al-Dinawari on the science of the heavens, copying it into his own books and claiming it as his own, and says that he did this in many of Abu Hanifa's books. This is al-Mas'udi's judgement alone. ⁴

He is credited with Adab al-Katib.