“Seek knowledge, even unto China”

“Seek knowledge, even unto China”

• “Seek knowledge, even unto China”

• -- attributed to the Prophet Muhammad

Born in Tangier, Morocco, in 1304

• Born in Tangier, Morocco, in 1304

• Died in 1368 in Fez

• Dictated his travels post facto to Ibn Juzayy.

• His Rihla (travel account) is the only documentation of his life

Between 1325 and 1355, Ibn Battuta covered more than 73,000 miles (twice as many as Marco Polo), in territory covering 44 modern countries.

• Between 1325 and 1355, Ibn Battuta covered more than 73,000 miles (twice as many as Marco Polo), in territory covering 44 modern countries.

What did travel mean to Muslims in the 14th century?

• What did travel mean to Muslims in the 14th century?

• How did Muslims view the world around them?

Some Muslims divided the world:

• Some Muslims divided the world:

• Dar al-Islam (countries under Islamic rule)
• Dar al-harb (countries at war with Muslims)
• Dar al-kufr (countries under rules of the “kafir” - non Muslims)
• and dozens of other categories

Rihla is a category of travel, that in search of learning and knowledge

• Rihla is a category of travel, that in search of learning and knowledge

• Hajj - travel for the pilgrimage to Mecca

• Hijra - migration in search of better living conditions

• … and so on

Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys to a scholar named Ibn Juzayy

• Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys to a scholar named Ibn Juzayy

• A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling, but is often simply referred to as the Rihla, or "Journey".

• Fictional in places, the Rihla still gives as complete an account as exists of some parts of the world in the 14th century.

“I left Tangier, my birthplace, on Thursday, 2nd Rajab 725 [June 14, 1325], being at that time twenty-two years of age [22 lunar years; 21 and 4 months by solar reckoning], with the intention of making the Pilgrimage to the Holy House [at Mecca] and the Tomb of the Prophet [at Medina].

• “I left Tangier, my birthplace, on Thursday, 2nd Rajab 725 [June 14, 1325], being at that time twenty-two years of age [22 lunar years; 21 and 4 months by solar reckoning], with the intention of making the Pilgrimage to the Holy House [at Mecca] and the Tomb of the Prophet [at Medina].

• “I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travelers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home. As my parents were still alive, it weighed grievously upon me to part from them, and both they and I were afflicted with sorrow.”

"I arrived ... at the city of Cairo, mother of cities ... mistress of broad provinces and fruitful lands, boundless in multitude of buildings, peerless in beauty and splendor, the meeting-place of comer and goer, the stopping-place of feeble and strong. ... She [Cairo] surges as the waves of the sea with her throngs of folk and can scarce contain them..." said Ibn Battuta. [Gibb, vol. I,

• "I arrived ... at the city of Cairo, mother of cities ... mistress of broad provinces and fruitful lands, boundless in multitude of buildings, peerless in beauty and splendor, the meeting-place of comer and goer, the stopping-place of feeble and strong. ... She [Cairo] surges as the waves of the sea with her throngs of folk and can scarce contain them..." said Ibn Battuta. [Gibb, vol. I,

“The Chinese are kafirs. They worship idols and burn their dead … In every city in China is a quarter where the Muslims live separately and have mosques for their Friday prayers and other assemblies. They are highly regarded and treated with respect. The Chinese kafirs eat the meat of pigs and dogs and sell it in the bazaars…

• “The Chinese are kafirs. They worship idols and burn their dead … In every city in China is a quarter where the Muslims live separately and have mosques for their Friday prayers and other assemblies. They are highly regarded and treated with respect. The Chinese kafirs eat the meat of pigs and dogs and sell it in the bazaars…

The Chinese are of all peoples the most skillful in crafts and attain the greatest perfection in them… One of the remarkable things I saw in this connection is that if I visited one of their cities and then came back to it, I always saw portraits of me and my companions painted on the walls…

• The Chinese are of all peoples the most skillful in crafts and attain the greatest perfection in them… One of the remarkable things I saw in this connection is that if I visited one of their cities and then came back to it, I always saw portraits of me and my companions painted on the walls…

China, for all its magnificence, did not please me. I was deeply depressed by the prevalence of infidelity and when I left my lodging I saw many offensive things which distressed me so much that I stayed at home and went out only when it was necessary.”

• China, for all its magnificence, did not please me. I was deeply depressed by the prevalence of infidelity and when I left my lodging I saw many offensive things which distressed me so much that I stayed at home and went out only when it was necessary.”

We then hired a wagon and traveled to the city of al-Qiram (in Crimea). We lodged in a hospice, whose shaykh welcomed us. This shaykh told me that outside this city there was a Christian monk who devoted himself to ascetic exercises and was able to fast for forty days at a stretch, after which he would break his fast with a single bean.

• We then hired a wagon and traveled to the city of al-Qiram (in Crimea). We lodged in a hospice, whose shaykh welcomed us. This shaykh told me that outside this city there was a Christian monk who devoted himself to ascetic exercises and was able to fast for forty days at a stretch, after which he would break his fast with a single bean.

We disembarked and went to the city of Qaqula (SE Asia). The Sultan welcomed us. In his assembly I saw a man with a hooked knife. He laid it on his neck and said something I didn’t understand. Then he cut his own throat. I was astounded at what he had done. The Sultan said “Does anyone do this among you?” I said, “I have never seen this anywhere.” The Sultan laughed and said, “These are our slaves and they kill themselves for the love of us.”

• We disembarked and went to the city of Qaqula (SE Asia). The Sultan welcomed us. In his assembly I saw a man with a hooked knife. He laid it on his neck and said something I didn’t understand. Then he cut his own throat. I was astounded at what he had done. The Sultan said “Does anyone do this among you?” I said, “I have never seen this anywhere.” The Sultan laughed and said, “These are our slaves and they kill themselves for the love of us.”

He is very critical of women having a high status or being able to meet socially with men.

• He is very critical of women having a high status or being able to meet socially with men.

• He is also critical of women who are not modest in dress.

• He tells of taking many wives and consorts, and has children by them, only to leave them, divorce them, or presumably sell them (for slaves).

• He is critical of prostitution.

• He ordered the death penalty for adulterers.

• He admired men who practiced celibacy or even castrated themselves, and considered them holy.

Ibn Battuta mentions slavery several times.

• Ibn Battuta mentions slavery several times.

• He was given slaves as part of his "hospitality gifts" in Turkey, and he bought slaves there as well.
• slavery existed in almost every place he traveled.
• The treatment of slaves seems to vary

As a strict Sunni Muslim judge:

• As a strict Sunni Muslim judge:

• He is critical of the Shi'i Muslims, and the Christians, and the Jews.
• He is especially antagonistic towards "heathens" - those who believe in more than one god.

Charity

• Charity

• Piety – holiness / focus on religion

• Women and men are separated

• Muslim slavery

• Education is valued – even outside of Dar-al-Islam

• Four wives, dozens of children…yet, values modesty