Ibn Batte ʿUbaydullah b. Muḥammad b. Ḥimrān. His kunyah is Abū ʿAbdillāh al-ʿAkbarī. He became famous under the name Ibn Batte. He is among the Hanbali ʿulamāʾ. He is the author of many works equipped with abundant knowledge on various sciences. He heard ḥadīth from al-Bāqāwī, Abū Bakr al-Nīsābūrī, Ibn Saʿīd, and many scholars from different regions. A group of ḥadīth memorizers among whom he was included also narrated from him. Many imams praised him. He was among those who enjoin good and forbid evil.
One man saw the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) in a dream and said:
– O Messenger of Allah, I have become confused among the madhhabs. I do not know which one to follow. What should I do?
– Follow the path of Abū ʿAbdillāh Ibn Batte!
When morning came, the man went to Ibn Batte to share this glad tidings. Upon seeing the man, Ibn Batte smiled and before the man could speak, he said three times: “The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) has spoken the truth.”
Al-Ḥāṭib al-Baghdādī criticized Ibn Batte due to some disparaging remarks made by his renowned teacher ʿAbd al-Wāḥid b. ʿAlī al-Asadī, known as Ibn Burhān al-Lughawī, who also spoke against Ibn Batte. On the other hand, Ibn al-Jawzī defended Ibn Batte by relying on some masters and criticized al-Ḥāṭib al-Baghdādī’s critique. According to Ibn Abī al-Wafāʾ b. ʿUkayl, Ibn Burhān belonged to the Murjiʾah and Muʿtazilah. According to him, disbelievers (kāfirūn) will not remain eternally in Hell. The Murjiʾah and Muʿtazilah sects have held this view. However, the reason for this view is as follows: eternal residence in Hell does not mean tormenting but taking revenge. This meaning is incompatible with divine justice. Moreover, Allah Almighty has said that He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful of those who show mercy. After this, Ibn ʿUkayl began to refute Ibn Burhān.
Ibn al-Jawzī said: “How can one accept disparaging such a person?” After saying this, Ibn al-Jawzī narrated from Ibn Batte with his isnād, stating that he heard from al-Bāqāwī, and also indicated that the one who proves is prior to the one who denies.
Al-Ḥāṭib al-Baghdādī said: ʿAbd al-Wāḥid b. Burhān narrated from Ibn Batte through Anas that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.”
Al-Ḥāṭib said: “According to the ḥadīth narrated by Imam Mālik, this is false and attributed to Ibn Batte.”
Ibn al-Jawzī said: “This can be answered in two ways: First, this ḥadīth has been seen in Ibn Burhān’s handwriting. In the work al-Qiḍāḥ, al-Ḥāṭib says: ‘He initially learned knowledge from my master Ibn Batte.’”
The second way is that Ibn Burhān criticized and censured Ibn Batte contrary to consensus. According to reports from great scholars, how can one criticize a righteous person whose dua is accepted? We seek refuge in Allah from being enslaved by our desires.”