Al-Ibanah As-Sughra by Ibn Battah Al-‘Ukbari – Al-Aqeedah Ed.

About Al-Ibanah as-Sughra

Al-Ibanah as-Sughra is a short work on creed by Ibn Battah al-‘Ukbari, the Hanbali scholar of Iraq. Its title means “the smaller Ibanah”, for the author’s best-known book, al-Ibanah, exists in a longer and a shorter version, and this is the shorter one. This edition is published in the Al-Aqeedah series, translated into English by Abu Hajar, with the Arabic text alongside. It is a hardcover of about 296 pages in a 6 by 9 inch format and is printed on demand.

Please note that this is not the book of the same name by Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari, al-Ibana ‘an Usul ad-Diyana. That is a different author and a different work. This title is by Ibn Battah.

What the book covers

• A reminder to hold firmly to the Sunnah and to the way of the Salaf and the scholars of hadith
• Warnings against innovations and against following one’s desires in matters of religion
• The author’s presentation of the beliefs he held to be those of the early Muslims
• Arabic text with an English rendering, so that readers can compare the two

Why Ibn Battah wrote it

Ibn Battah lived in a time when he saw many people drifting away from the Sunnah. He wrote this shorter work as a reminder: to hold to what the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions were upon, to follow the scholars of hadith, and to be careful of new things introduced into religion and of the pull of desire. The tone is that of a teacher who is anxious for his readers, and the style is direct and brief compared with the longer version.

About the author

Ibn Battah al-‘Ukbari lived from about 917 to 997 CE and was born in ‘Ukbara in Iraq. He was a Hanbali scholar of the Athari creed, which gives priority to the texts of the Qur’an and hadith and to the understanding of the early generations. His best-known work is al-Ibanah. Like many scholars of his time, he was spoken about in different ways: al-Khatib al-Baghdadi criticised him, while Ibn al-Jawzi defended him. Readers should know both facts and judge the book by its contents and by the guidance of their own teachers.

Why it matters

Classical texts on creed show how earlier scholars explained their beliefs and how they taught ordinary Muslims to hold to them. A reader who studies such a text in the original words of its author, rather than through a summary, gains a clearer picture of that tradition. Having Arabic and English together is helpful to students who are learning the language and wish to check how a phrase is rendered.

Who should read it

Students of ‘aqidah, readers interested in Hanbali and Athari writings, those who study the history of Islamic thought, and Arabic learners who want a bilingual text will find this useful. It is not a children’s primer, and a beginner will benefit from reading it with a teacher.

How to benefit from it

Read a few pages at a time and note the points you wish to ask about. Look at the Arabic where you can, and compare it with the English. Keep a notebook of the verses and hadith the author cites and look them up in a reliable collection. Where you meet a difficult passage, ask a qualified teacher instead of guessing. Above all, read it humbly and with a view to correcting yourself first.

A note on reading classical texts

A book from the fourth century of the Hijrah belongs to its own time. It speaks to the concerns of its age, and some of its language may feel unfamiliar. Read it with fairness, avoid using it to attack other Muslims, and remember that the Prophet ﷺ taught that the believers are like one body. A work on creed is meant to bring hearts closer to Allah, not to create hostility between brothers.

Edition details

Al-Aqeedah edition, translated by Abu Hajar, English with Arabic, hardcover, about 296 pages, 6 x 9 inches, print on demand. Printings can differ, so please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as al-Ash’ari’s al-Ibana? No. That is a different book by a different author. This is Ibn Battah’s shorter Ibanah.

Is the Arabic text included? Yes, the edition is English with Arabic.

Who translated it? Abu Hajar, in the Al-Aqeedah edition.

Looking for more books like this? Browse our Creed & Fiqh collection or explore all Islamic Books. Follow Lafz Bookstore on Instagram for new arrivals and book recommendations.