Abu Abdullah
Muhammad Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn
Battuta was a Moroccan Muslim scholar and traveler. He was known for his
travelling and undertaking excursions called the Rihla. His journeys lasted for
a period of almost thirty years, covering nearly the whole of the known Islamic
world and beyond. They extended from North Africa, West Africa, Southern Europe
and Eastern Europe in the West, to the Middle East , Indian subcontinent,
Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China in the East, a distance readily
surpassing that of his predecessors. After his travels he returned to Morocco
and gave his account of the experience to Ibn Juzay.
Early life and Career
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn
Battuta, was born in Tangier Morocco on the 24th of February 1304
C.E. (703 Hijra) during the time of the Marinid dynasty. He was commonly known
as Shams ad-Din. His family was of Berber origin and had a tradition of service
as judges. After receiving an education in Islamic law, he chose to travel. He
left his house in June 1325, when he was twenty one year of age and set off
from his hometown initially on a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, a journey that
took him 16 months. He continued travelling and did not return to Morocco for
at least 24 years. His journeys were mostly by land. To reduce the risk of
being attacked, he usually chose to join a caravan. In the town of Sfax, he
married. During his travels, he survived wars, shipwrecks, and rebellions.
