Born in 1304, Ibn Battuta has left his mark on the world. The medieval Muslim traveler traveled 120 thousand km and wrote the book ‘Rihlah’ about his journey. Until today, his memory remains in people’s minds due to his great work describing the people, places, and cultures he encountered. From India to Andalusia, let’s talk about Ibn Battuta’s journey around the world.
Ibn Battuta’s History
Born and raised in Tangier, Morocco, Ibn Battuta lived for the first 21 years with his family of Muslim Judges. He studied the traditional juristic and literary education, and when turning 21, he decided to start exploring the world and go to Hajj in Mecca.
What started as a religious journey to broaden his education and study under the famous scholars in Egypt, Syria, and Hejaz, ended up in a passion for traveling and cultures. During the first part of his journey, his studies helped qualify him for judicial office.
Arriving in Egypt was the beginning of Ibn Battuta’s passion discovery for traveling. Ever since he decided to travel on different routes and found a way to make a living. Thanks to his scholarly status and fame as a traveler, sultans, and rulers worldwide welcomed him in countries.
Traveling to Egypt
Arriving in Cairo, the city was crowded with people, camels, and donkeys at different shops around the market. The city was full of life, with plenty of mosques, colleges, hospitals, and convents. Ibn Battuta was impressed with a hospital that provided service for the sick, reflecting one of the five pillars of Islam, charity. After Egypt, Ibn Battuta went to continue his discoveries through the Nile.
Traveling to India
On his journey to India, Ibn Battuta went through the Afghanistan mountains. India wasn’t stable at the time, and the Sultan was inviting judges, scholars, and administrators to help him and rewarded them with gifts and high salaries. So, Ibn Battuta went to Delhi to visit Sultan Mohammad Tughluq in hopes of gaining employment at the time.
The Sultan was a dangerous man. He used to punish people for the smallest mistakes. When Ibn Battuta arrived in India, the Sultan was out of town but hired Ibn Battuta before seeing him, rewarding him with a high salary and lots of gifts at the time. Ibn Battuta became a judge with two assistants as he couldn’t speak Persian. Eventually, Ibn Battuta fell into debt, but the Sultan gave him more money to pay off his debt, as well as another job.
Ibn Battuta got married and had a daughter with his wife, but as things were unstable, Ibn Battuta wanted to run away from the Sultan due to some problems. However, as time passed and things calmed down, the Sultan called for Ibn Battuta and sent him to China with 15 Chinese messengers and gifts to the emperor.
Traveling to Andalusia
At the age of 45, Ibn Battuta returned to Morocco. During the same time, al-Andalus was threatened by several Christian rulers trying to reconquer the land from Muslims. An army of Alfonso XI of Castile wanted to attack Gibraltar soon, putting Muslims in the city in danger. Hence, Ibn Battuta decided to join a Moroccan army of volunteers going to defend Gibraltar. However, the time had passed when they arrived, and King Alfonso and his army were taken over by the Black Death.
Ibn Battuta decided to continue his travels to Andalusia as a tourist.
Traveling to Persia
100 years before his visit, Iraq and Persia were suffering under the Mongol invasion. Even a century later, when Ibn Battuta arrived, the effects of the invasion were still seen in the country on economy and agriculture. However, the invasion did positively impact the Persian culture in terms of art and education.
During his journey, Ibn Battuta met Sufi Muslims, who find God in different experiences such as poetry, music, dance, etc. but seek experience with God through Love.
Ibn Battuta achieved his goal by traveling the world and teaching others about his encounters. Through his books, people were able to learn about his journey and the different cultures he was exposed to, and until today his name is remembered among people.
