He was born in 277 H. The first he heard hadith was in 290 and the first he travelled was in 297 A.H.

He heard Bahlul ibn Ishaq al-Tannukhi, Muhammad ibn `Uthman ibn Abi Suwayd, Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Marwazi, Anas ibn al-Salam... al-Nasa'i... al-Firyabi... Abu Ya`la al-Mawsili... al-Baghawi... Ibn Khuzayma.

Ibn `Asakir and others declared him trustworthy and praised his mastership and memorization.
Apparently he was Shafi`i and compiled a book based on the chapter-headings of al-Muzani's Mukhtasar.

He died in 365 A.H. Allah have mercy on him.