Most, if not all, the materials for the histories of al-Mu'tadid, al-Muktafi, and the early years of al-Muqtadir were collected by him about the time the reported events took place.
De fleste, hvis ikke alle, materialer fra historikern al-Mu'tadid, al-Muktafi og de første år af al-Muqtadirs blev indsamlet af ham om den tid, de rapporterede hændelser fandt sted.