Question

Which of the following is not true about Ibn Battuta?

• A. Wrote Rihla, book of travels, in Arabic.
• B. He was born in Tangier, into an educated family known for its expertise in Islamic religious law or shari'a.
• C. He describes that certain varieties of fine muslin were too expensive to be worn by ordinary people.
• D. He was ordered in 1342 to proceed to Persia as the envoy of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

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.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the incorrect statement about the life and travels of the 14th-century Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Statement (1): This is correct. Ibn Battuta's travelogue is called the \textit{Rihla} (which simply means "The Journey"), and he wrote it in his native language, Arabic.
Statement (2): This is correct. He was born in Tangier, Morocco, to a family of Islamic legal scholars (ulama), and he was himself an expert in \textit{shari'a}.
Statement (3): This is correct. In his account, Ibn Battuta provides detailed descriptions of Indian trade and products, and he mentions the high quality and cost of fine textiles like muslin from Bengal.
Statement (4): This is incorrect. In 1342, after a period of falling out of favor, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq appointed Ibn Battuta as his envoy not to Persia, but to the Mongol court of China. This journey to China forms a major part of the later sections of his \textit{Rihla}.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The statement that is not true is the one claiming he was sent as an envoy to Persia. He was sent to China.