His patronymic was Abū'l-Ḥasan. He belonged to the Abs tribe. He served as the judge (qāḍī) of the eastern side of Baghdad. He was appointed to this position by Hārūn al-Rashīd.
He was among the companions (aṣḥāb) of Abū Ḥanīfa and was a trustworthy scholar. Later, Hārūn al-Rashīd appointed him as the chief judge (qāḍī al-quḍāt).
When Hārūn al-Rashīd came to visit him, he would escort ʿAlī b. Zibyān as far as the outside of the palace. ʿAlī b. Zibyān passed away this year in Kumaysīn.