Ibn Batutta- His Life & Journey to the Indian Subcontinent

1) Origins: As a Muslim, Ibn Battuta was required to make the Hajj to fulfill one of the five pillars of Islam. To learn more about Hajj, watch the video below.

Over the course of his life, Ibn Battuta traveled around over 72,000 miles making him the most-traveled explorer. He traveled all over the Old World to places including North Africa, the East African coast, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Iberian Peninsula.

2) Alexandria: An imam (Muslim leader) named Borhan Oddin El Aaraj tells Ibn Battuta, "I perceive that you are fond of travelling into various countries. I said yes; although I had at that time no intention of travelling into very distant parts. He replied, you must visit my brother Farid Oddin in India, and my brother Rokn Oddin Ibn Zakarya in Sindia, and also my brother Borhan Oddin in China: and, when you see them, present my compliments to them."

Another imam, named Sheikh Abu Abd Allah El Murshidi, reiterated Ibn Battuta's call to be a traveller saying, "You will perform the pilgrimage, and visit the tomb of the Prophet; you will then traverse the countries of Yemen, Iraq, Turkey, and India, and will remain in these some time."

Ibn Battuta travels to the Indian Subcontinent during his 1332-1347 Itinerary.

3) Travels throughout the Indian Subcontinent (Punjab): In Punjab, Ibn Battuta prepares to meet the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate by buying expensive gifts. He also visits many Sufi shrines as Imam Borhan Oddin El Aaraj from Alexandria encouraged him to do so. Sufism is a mystical sect of Islam and widespread in the Indian subcontinent, especially in present-day Pakistan. The mystical, spiritual aspects of Sufism come from devotion through meditation, ecstatic dance, and music. Over the centuries, Sufism has suffered persecution, suppression, and discrimination by the larger Sunni and Shia sects of Islam during the various Sultanates of the subcontinent as some Muslim scholars believe their practices are blasphemous. Generally, Sufis are also seen as "other" compared to the larger, more popular branches of Sunni and Shia Islam. Some Sufis oppose government authority which is why they were persecuted by sultanates.

4) Travels throughout the Indian Subcontinent (Delhi): Ibn Battuta is given a privileged introduction to the subcontinent because he is immediately admitted to the Sultan's inner circle- he gets to meet Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq and stay in his palace. The Sultan even appoints him judge of Delhi. In his accounts he describes the queen, the vizier, the ways of the court. Of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq, he says, "This Emperor was one of the most bountiful and splendidly munificent men (where he took); but in other cases, one of the most impetuous and inexorable: and very seldom indeed did it happen, that pardon followed his anger." The Sultan's temper fluctuated frequently and would torture or put those who opposed him to death. Ibn Battuta was almost killed as he befriended a Sufi holy man who renounced the Sultan's power. After that, Ibn Battuta wished to leave India at the earliest convenience. In 1342, he got his opportunity when he was relieved of his status of judge to become a foreign ambassador by the Sultan.

5) Travels throughout the Indian Subcontinent (Aligarh): At this time, Ibn Battuta is serving as an ambassador of the Sultan to the Emperor of China. The Emperor of China wanted to build a temple on Mount Kalaish in Tibet that was currently under Muslim rule. While traveling through India, he speaks of religious quarrels saying, "When we had arrived here, we were informed that the infidel Hindus had besieged the city El Jalali, which is seven days from Kul(Aligarh). The intention of these infidels was, to destroy the inhabitants; and this they nearly effected. We made such a vigorous attack upon them, however, that not one of them was left alive." Upon the peoples he comes across, Ibn Battuta makes the differentiation between Muslims and the Hindu-majority (and any other non-Muslim) by calling them infidels.

Travels throughout the Indian Subcontinent (Malabar Coast): For the most part, Southern India avoided foreign Muslim rule until 1332-1333 when the Delhi Sultanate defeated the Kakatiya Dynasty and took over southern India. The South Indian Hindu kings, now subjects to the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, could remain rulers of their cities as long as they payed taxes to the Sultanate. Of all the kings he encounters, he calls them infidel.

Observations of the cities and people he encountered: - "We next came to Kalikut, one of the great ports of the district of Malabar, and in which merchants from ail parts are found. The king of this place is an infidel, who shaves his chin just as the Haidari Fakeers of Room [Byzantium] do. When we approached this place, the people came out to meet us, and with a large concourse brought us into the port."

-We next arrived at the city of Barun, which is small, and inhabited by Muslims: it is situated in the midst of the infidel districts. In these parts are many wild beasts, which enter the town and tear the inhabitants. I was told, however, that such as enter the streets of the town are not wild beasts really, but only some of the magicians called Jogis (hermits), who can assume the shape of wild beasts, and appear as such to the mind. These are a people who can work miracles, of which one is, that any one of them can keep an entire fast for several months.

-We next came to the city of Nazar Abad. It is small, and inhabited by the Mahrattas, a people well skilled in the arts, medicine, and astrology: their nobles are Brahmins. The food of the Mahrattas consists of rice, green vegetables, and oil of sesame. They do not allow either the punishing or sacrificing of animals. They carefully wash all their food, just as one washes after other impurities ; and never intermarry with their relations, unless separated by the interval of seven generations at least. They also abstain from the use of urine.

-(Malabar) The whole of the way by land lies under the shade of trees, and at the distance of every half mile, there is a house made of wood in which there are chambers fitted up for the reception of comers and goers whether they be Muslims or infidels. To each of these there is a well out of which they drink; and over each is an infidel appointed to give drink. To the infidels he supplies this in vessels; to the Muslims he pours it in their hands. They do not allow the Muslims to touch their vessels, or to enter into their apartments; but if any one should happen to eat out of one of their vessels, they break it to pieces. But, in most of their districts the Mussulman merchants have houses, and are greatly respected. So that Muslims who are strangers, whether they are merchants or poor, may lodge among them. But at any town in which no Muslim resides, upon any one's arriving they cook, and pour out drink for him, upon the leaf of the 'banana; and, whatever he happens to leave, is given to the dogs.

-We next came to the city of Hinaur, which is situated at an estuary of the sea, and which receives large vessels. The inhabitants of this place are Muslims of the sect of Shafia, a peaceable and religious people. They carry on, however, a warfare for the faith by sea, and for this they are noted. The women of this city, and indeed of all the Indian districts situated on the sea-shores, never dress in clothes that have been stitched, but the contrary. Cue of them, for example, will tie one part of a piece of cloth round her waist, while the remaining part will be placed upon her head and breast. They are chaste and handsome. The greater part of the inhabitants, both males and females, have committed the Koran to memory.

- I proceeded, therefore, to that place by the river. It is situated at the distance of ten days from Kalikut. After five days I came to Kanjarkara, which stands on the top of a hill, is inhabited by Jews, and governed by an Emir who pays tribute to the King of Kawlam.

Context: The Indian subcontinent is unique as it hosts a plethora of diverse religions and peoples. Historically, it has been and remains a place with a Hindu majority. Muslims make up the second highest religious population while religions such as Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism follow behind. At the time of Ibn Battuta's visit, a majority of the subcontinent was controlled by the Tughluq Dynasty (with Turkic Sunni origins) ruling as the Delhi Sultanate. This meant foreign Muslims, who spoke Persian in their courts, ruled over majority-Hindu, Sanskrit-speaking lands. Ibn Battuta points out the difference in beliefs each peoples have, their way of living, and the relationships between those of differing religious beliefs. While his bias shows through his use of the infidel, Ibn Battuta's accounts display the rich cultures in the subcontinent.

Assignment: Write a short response on how bias influences how we see the world. Then, pick another location Ibn Battuta traveled through and create a StoryMap. Be sure to include key events and their significance.