His patronymic is Abū Bakr al-Madraʾī. He worked as a scribe. He was born in Iraq in the year 255 of the Hijra. Together with his father and his brother Aḥmad, he went to Egypt. He served as the director of land tax affairs under Khumārawayh b. Aḥmad b. Ṭūlūn. Later, this person became one of the leading and eminent figures among the people. He listened to hadith from Aḥmad b. ʿAbd al-Jabbār and from those of his rank.
Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī has narrated that he said the following:
"There was an old man among the scribes at my door. He had already retired and was no longer working. One day, I saw my father in a dream. He said to me: 'O my dear son, do you not fear Allah? You are indulging yourself and preoccupied with your pleasures, while people at your door are on the verge of perishing from hunger and nakedness. That man—yes, that man—his trousers are torn. He does not have the means to buy a new one. Do not neglect his situation. Take care of him.'
I woke up from sleep in a panic. I resolved to do good to that old man. Then I fell asleep again.
I had already forgotten the dream I had seen. At one point, while I was on my way to the government building, I saw that the man my father had reminded me of in the dream was riding a weak mount. When the man saw me, he wanted to dismount, but because his trousers were torn, I saw his calf. He was wearing a slipper without trousers. Upon seeing his condition, I remembered the dream. I called the man to my side and gave him 1,000 dinars and some clothing. I also assigned him a monthly salary of 200 dinars for his service. Furthermore, I promised him that I would continue to do good to him in the future."