[4][5][6] Bishr's father, Ghiyath, was a Jewish slave or jeweller from Kufa[7][8] who had reverted to Islam and become a mawla of the Quraysh tribe.
[4][8] According to Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, the people of Baghdad (whom were influenced by Bishr's opponents) rejoiced upon hearing news of his death.
[12] The Hanafite jurist Abd al-Aziz al-Kinani published a treatise titled Kitab al-Haydah, which served a similar purpose.
[15][10] Despite the harsh criticisms from many scholars, Bishr al-Marisi was praised by the historian Al-Dhahabi, who regarded him as a brilliant speaker and debater.
[9][8] Ibn al-Nadim regarded Bishr as a great ascetic who wrote books in refutation of the Kharijites and Shi'ites.