mentions that "he learned the reading of the Quran from AbdAllah b. al-Saib al‌ Makhzumi," but the generally accepted view is that he studied with Mujahid. ١٢
Ibn Kathir had two transmitters, al-Buzzi and Qanbal, who learned his reading through intermediary authorities.
As for al-Buzzi, his full name was Al)mad b. Mul:lammad b. AbdAllah b. al-Qasim b. Nafi b. Abi Buzza. He was also known as Bashshar, and he was of Persian origin, from Hamadan. He converted to Islam at the hand of al-Saib b. Abi al-Saib al‌ Makhzumi. According to Ibn al-Jazari, he was a meticulous teacher, with a precise memory. He was born in ١٧٠ A.H. (٧٨٦ c.E.) and died in ٢٥٠ A.H. (٨٦٤ c.E.).١٣
Al-Buzzi studied with Abu al-J:Iasan Al:lmad b. Mul:lammad b. Alqama, known as
Qawwas, and with AbU al-AkhriWahab b. Waqil:l al-Makki and AbdAllah b. Ziyad b. AbdAllah b. Yasar al-MakkL ١٤ However, according to al-Uqay!I, "his transmis‌ sion of the tradition was rejected"; similarly, AbU I:Iatim says that "he was weak in the transmission of the tradition-!do not report on his authority." ١٥
Concerning those who studied the reading with him, the authorities are in disagreement.
As for Qanbal, his full name was Mul:lammad b. Abd al-Ral:lman b. Khalid b. Mul:lammad Abu Amr al-Makhzumi; [he was] the client of al-Makki. He acquired his reading of the Quran by presenting it to Al)mad b. Mul:lammad b. Awn al-Nabbal, who later deputized him to teach in Mekka. Qanbal also transmitted the reading on the authority of al-BuzzL The leadership of those who taught the Quran in Hijaz eventually passed to him, and he also held the position of chief of police in Mekka. He was born in ١٩٥ A.H. (٨١٠ c.E.), and he died in ٢٩١ A.H. (٩٠٣ c.E.).١٦ [But after he was made] chief of police, his character was tarnished. As he advanced in age, he became infirm and deteriorated mentally. Thus he stopped teaching the reading of the Quran seven years before his death. ١٧
Concerning those who transmitted his reading of the Quran, the authorities are in
disagreement.

A?im b. Bahdala ai-Kofi

His full name was Ibn Abi al-Nujud Abu Bakr ai-Asadi; [his tribe was a] client of the Asad of Kufa. He acquired the reading of the Quran by presenting it to Zarr b. J:Iubaysh, Abu Abd ai-Ral:lman al-Sulami, and Abu Amr al-ShaybanL Abu Bakr b. al-Shaybani reports that A im
the Quran except Abd al-Ral:lman al-SulamL I used to leave him and present the
reading to Zarr [for his critical approval]." I:Iafreports that A$im also told him,
The reading that I have taught you is the one I learned from Abu Abd al-Ral:lman al-Sulami, who transmitted it [on the authority of] Ali [b. Abi Talib). And the read‌ ing that I have taught to Abu Bakr b. Ayyash is the one that I presented to Zarr b. J:Iubaysh [for his critical approval], which is the reading [he received on the author‌ ity] of Ibn Masfid.١٨
Ibn Sad says that A!am was "reliable, but made mistakes in the transmission of the tradition." AbdAllah b. Al:lmad reports, from his father, that A!am was "a pro-