Abu
Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams
ad - Din, was born at Tangier, Morocco, on the 24th February
1304 C.E. (703 Hijra). He left Tangier on Thursday, 14th June,
1325 C.E. (2nd Rajab 725 A.H.), when he was twenty one years
of age. His travels lasted for about thirty years, after which
he returned to Fez , Morocco at the court of Sultan Abu 'Inan
and dictated accounts of his journeys to Ibn Juzay. These
are known as the famous Travels (Rihala) of Ibn Battuta. He
died at Fez in 1369 C.E.
Ibn Battuta was the only medieval traveller who is known to
have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time.
He also travelled in Ceylon (present Sri Lanka ), China and
Byzantium and South Russia. The mere extent of his travels
is estimated at no less than 75,000 miles, a figure which
is not likely to have been surpassed before the age of steam.
Travels
In the course of his first journey, Ibn Battuta travelled
through Algiers, Tunis, Egypt, Palestine and Syria to Makkah.
After visiting Iraq, Shiraz and Mesopotamia he once more returned
to perform the Hajj at Makkah and remained there for three
years. Then travelling to Jeddah he went to Yemen by sea,
visited Aden and set sail for Mombasa, East Africa. After
going up to Kulwa he came back to Oman and repeated pilgrimage
to Makkah in 1332 C.E. via Hormuz, Siraf Bahrain and Yamama.
Subsequently he set out with the purpose of going to India,
but on reaching Jeddah, he appears to have changed his mind
(due perhaps to the unavailability of a ship bound for India),
and revisited Cairo, Palestine and Syria, thereafter arriving
at Aleya (Asia Minor) by sea and travelled across Anatolia
and Sinope. He then crossed the Black Sea and after long wanderings
he reached Constantinople through Southern Ukraine.
On his return to Fez, Ibn Battuta dictated the accounts of
his travels to Ibn Juzay al-Kalbi (1321-1356 C.E.) at the
court of Sultan Abu Inan (1348-1358 C.E). Ibn Juzay took three
months to accomplish this work, which he finished on 9th December
1355 C.E.
Writings
In order to experience the flavour of Ibn Battuta's
narrative one must sample a few extracts. The following passage
illustrates the system of social security in operation in
the Muslim world in the early 14th century C.E.: "The
variety and expenditure of the religious endowments at Damascus
are beyond computation. There are endowments in aid of persons
who cannot undertake the pilgrimage to Makkah, out of which
ate paid the expenses of those who go in their stead. There
are other endowments for supplying wedding outfits to girls
whose families are unable to provide them and others for the
freeing of prisoners. There are endowments for travellers,
out of the revenues of which they are given food, clothing,
and the expenses of conveyance to their countries. Then there
are endowments for the improvement and paving of the streets,
because all the lanes in Damascus have pavements on either
side, on which the foot passengers walk, while those who ride
use the roadway in the centre". p.69, ref l
Ibn
Battuta - The Forgotten Traveller
Ibn Battuta's sea voyages and references to shipping
reveal that the Muslims completely dominated the maritime
activity of the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean
, and the Chinese waters. Also it is seen that though the
Christian traders were subject to certain restrictions, most
of the economic negotiations were transacted on the basis
of equality and mutual respect.
One can understand why these great Muslims are ignored by
the West. But the indifference of the Muslim governments is
incomprehensible. In order to combat the inferiority complex
that plagues the Muslim Ummah, we must rediscover the contributions
of Muslims in fields such as science, medicine, engineering,
architecture and astronomy. This will encourage contemporary
young Muslims to strive in these fields and not think that
major success is beyond their reach. |
La
ilaha ilallah, La ilaha ilallah.
Silent sunlight welcome in,
There is work I must now begin,
All my dreams have blown away,
And the children wait to play,
They'll soon remember things to do…
When the heart is young…
And the night is done…
And the sky is blue.
La ilaha ilallah, La ilaha ilallah.
Morning songbirds sing away,
Lend the tune to another day.
Bring your wings and choose a roof,
Sing a song of love and truth.
We'll soon remember if you do…
When all things we're tall…
And our friends were small…
And the world was new.
La
ilaha ilallah, La ilaha ilallah.
Sleepy horses heave away,
Put your backs to the golden hay.
Don't ever look behind at the work you've done,
For your work has just begun.
They'll be the evening in the end…
But ‘til that time arrives…
You can rest your eyes…
And begin again.
La
ilaha ilallah,
Silent sunlight…
La ilaha ilallah,
Morning songbirds…
La
ilaha ilallah,
Silent sunlight welcome in. |