Is what was narrated in the book "Tabaqat al-Awliya'" by Ibn al-Mulaqqin regarding Abu al-Khayr al-Titarani al-Aqta' — that he used to leave his son amidst lions — and regarding Abu Sulayman al-Darani — that he used to disappear — authentic?

This story was mentioned by Ibn al-Mulaqqin in "Tabaqat al-Awliya'" (Ranks of the Saints), in which Abu al-Khair asked his son Isa to choose between him giving him bread and being with a lion, or staying with him without bread. Isa chose the bread, so his father left him with two lions until evening.

Ibn Asakir narrated it in "Tarikh Dimashq" (History of Damascus) and Al-Dhahabi in "Tarikh al-Islam" (History of Islam) with another version, where Isa's father became angry because he did not bring the bread and threw him into the thicket at night. He woke up at dawn to find a lion beside him and his father praying.

We have not found a ruling from the scholars regarding the authenticity or inauthenticity of the story.