الرحلةThe Journey

عبيد الله بن محمد ابن بطة العكبري

Ibn Battah (RH)

'Ubayd Allah Ibn Battah al-'Ukbari

Also known as: Ibn Batta, Ibn Battah al-Ukbari, al-'Ukbari

304–387 AH · 917–997 CE

Sufism & Theology Hanbali Theology Fiqh

Hanbali scholar of 'Ukbara, author of al-Ibanah on the creed of the early Muslims.

Ibn Battah was born in 'Ukbara, a town on the Tigris north of Baghdad, and was taken to Baghdad as a boy to hear hadith from its leading narrators, among them Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi. He later travelled to Makkah, Basra and the frontier towns, and lived in Makkah for some years. He then returned to 'Ukbara and stayed there for about forty years, teaching, writing and giving fatwas, known for his worship and his strict adherence to the Sunnah.

His al-Ibanah al-Kubra gathers the reports of the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions and the early imams on matters of belief, and warns against the sects of his time; al-Ibanah al-Sughra is a shorter statement of the same creed. Hadith critics differed over his precision: al-Khatib al-Baghdadi pointed out errors in his narrations, while Ibn al-Jawzi defended him.

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Life journey

  1. 917 CE 'Ukbara عكبرا
  2. 927 CE Baghdad بغداد
    Taken to Baghdad as a boy to hear hadith; the year is approximate.
  3. 945 CE Makkah مكة
    Lived in Makkah for some years, and also travelled to Basra and the frontier towns; the years are approximate.
  4. 958 CE 'Ukbara عكبرا
    Died 997 CE · 387 AH
    Returned to 'Ukbara, where he stayed about forty years until his death.

Key works

  • al-Ibanah al-Kubra الإبانة عن شريعة الفرقة الناجية
    The Great Exposition
    Reports from the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions and the early imams on matters of belief, arranged by topic.
  • al-Ibanah al-Sughra الشرح والإبانة على أصول السنة والديانة
    The Lesser Exposition
    A short statement of the creed and practice of the Sunnah.

Places in their life

al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
Photo: Taisir Mahdi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
Photo: Adli Wahid (minor modifications by Basile Morin), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
  • Ibn Abi Ya'la, Tabaqat al-Hanabila
  • al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Travel years are approximate. Check the wording on al-Khatib's criticism of his narrations and Ibn al-Jawzi's defence.