Ibn battah

Infobox_Philosopher
region = Iraqi scholar
era = Medieval era
color = #B0C4DE

image_caption =

name = Ibn Battah al-Hanbali
birth = 304 AH in Baghdad
death = 387 AH
school_tradition = Hanbali
main_interests =

influences = Ahmad bin Hanbal and al-Barbahaaree [Explanation of the Creed, pg. 11]
influenced = Abu al-Fath al-Fawaris
notable_ideas =

The Imaam Abu Abdullah `Ubaidullah bin Muhammad bin Battah al-`Ukbari al-Hanbali [known as Ibn Battah] was the Hadeeth Master (Hafidh), the Hanbali Legal Jurist (Faqeeh), and an ascetic. He was born in the year 916 (304 AH) in Ukbaraa, a land close to Baghdad, and died in the year 997 (387 AH).

His father was a Faqeeh and it was under his auspices that he began his studies and he often reports from him in his books. He was sent to Baghdad to study hadeeth while still young, then he travelled to various lands such as Shaam, Basrah, Mecca and Thagur studying under a host of the leading scholars of his time and excelled in aqeedah, hadeeth and fiqh. [ Adh-Dhahabi, ‘Siyar’ Volume # 16 Page # 529 ]

His Teachers

His teachers included al-Barbahaaree, [Explanation of the Creed, pg. 11] Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi, Abu Dharr al-Baghandi, Abu Bakr bin Ziyad an-Naisapuri, Isma`eel al-Warraq, al-Qadi al-Mahamali, Muhammad bin Mukhlid, Abu Talib Ahmad bin Nasr al-Hafidh, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Thabit al-Ukbari, Ali bin Abi al-Aqab, Ahmad bin Ubaid as-Saffar, ibn Sa`id and others. [ Ibn Hajr, ‘Lisaan al-Meezaan’ Volume # 4 Page # 133 ]

His Students

His students included Abu al-Fath bin Abi al-Fawaris, Abu Nu`aym al-Asbahani, Ubaidullah al-Azhari, AbdulAzeez al-Azji, and Abu Ishaq al-Barmaki, Abu Muhammad al-Jawhari, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Eesa as-Sa`si and others. [ Ibn Katheer, ‘al-Bidaayah wa an-Nihaayah’ Volume # 11 Pages 368 ]

His Dedication to Knowledge

He has been praised by more than one Imaamwho and was famous for enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi said:

Abu Haamid ad-Dawli narrated to me that when Ibn Battah returned from his travels he confined himself to his house for forty years [only rarely going out] . He was not seen in the market place and neither was he seen breaking fast except on the day of Eed. He used to enjoin the good and not a single bad narration [concerning people] would reach him except that he put it in a better light. [Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee, ‘Taareekh Baghdaad’ Volume # 10372)]

Comments from other Muslim scholars

AbdulWahid bin Ali al-Ukbari said:

I have not seen any of the scholars from the Ashabul Hadeeth or other than them having a better disposition and mannerism than Ibn Battah [al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee, ‘Taareekh Baghdaad’ Volume # 10 Page #372 ]

Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Atiqi said:

Ibn Battah was a righteous Shaikh, one whose supplications were answered. [ Ibn al-Jawzee, ‘al-Muntadhim’ Volume # 7 Page # 194]

Abu al-Fath al-Qawwas said

I mentioned the knowledge and ascetism of ibn Battah to Abu Sa`eed al-Isma`ili and so he went to him. When he returned he commented, "his [knowledge and ascetism] is beyond description. [Al-Asqalani, ‘Lisaan al-Meezaan’ Volume # 4 Page # 134 ]

Abu Mas`ud Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Bajli, the Hafidh said

I have loved the Hanbalis since the day I saw Abu Abdullah bin Battah. [Ibn Abi Ya`la, ‘Tabaqatul Hanabila’ Volume # 2 Page # 145]

Ibn al-Amad said:

the great Imaam, the Hafidh, Ibn Battah, the Hanbali Faqeeh and righteous servant [of Allah] . [Ibn al-Amad, ‘Shadharat adh-Dhahab’ Volume # 3 Page # 122]

References

ee also

*Islam
*Ahmad bin Hanbal
*Hanbali Scholars