Question:medium

Which of the following is not true about Ibn Battuta?

Show Hint

Remember the key stages of Ibn Battuta's career in India: Arrived in 1333, served as Qazi of Delhi, and was finally sent as an envoy to China by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • Wrote Rihla, book of travels, in Arabic.
  • He was born in Tangier, into an educated family known for its expertise in Islamic religious law or shari'a.
  • He describes that certain varieties of fine muslin were too expensive to be worn by ordinary people.
  • He was ordered in 1342 to proceed to Persia as the envoy of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the Question: The objective is to identify the false statement regarding the life and journeys of the 14th-century Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta.

Step 2: Analyze Each Statement:

Statement (1): This statement is accurate. Ibn Battuta's travelogue is known as the \textit{Rihla}, meaning "The Journey," and was written in his native Arabic.
Statement (2): This statement is accurate. He originated from Tangier, Morocco, and belonged to a family of Islamic legal scholars (ulama). He was also proficient in \textit{shari'a}.
Statement (3): This statement is accurate. Ibn Battuta's writings include detailed accounts of Indian trade and commodities, specifically mentioning the high quality and cost of fine textiles such as muslin from Bengal.
Statement (4): This statement is inaccurate. In 1342, following a period of disfavor, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq dispatched Ibn Battuta as an envoy not to Persia, but to the Mongol court in China. This mission to China constitutes a significant portion of the later sections of his \textit{Rihla}.

Step 3: Conclusion:
The inaccurate statement asserts that Ibn Battuta was sent as an envoy to Persia. His actual assignment was to China.
Was this answer helpful?
0