14th-Century Muslim Pilgrim: A Travel Narrative - Essay Sample

Introduction

The travel is a valuable source that uses a travel narrative genre to provide information about the encounters of the protagonist. The narrator was a Muslim who decides to leave his home and dedicated his life to become a pilgrim. He traveled far and wide, which also means that he encountered multiple aspects that can give some insight related to cultural practices of the areas he visited, religious beliefs in the fourteenth century, and also some cultural practices during the timeline in which the travel was made. By analyzing Ibn Battuta's travels narration, this essay will tend to prove what it revealed about the Islamic world in the 14th century and also how Battuta's religion piety shaped his travels.

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Islamic World in the 14th Century

One of the things revealed about the Islamic world in the 14th century is that visiting religion sanctuaries was a way of proving individual piety. Though the entire Islamic religion valued the shrines, religious devotion was the motivation behind deciding to visit them physically. For one to make a decision such as the one that was made by Battuta, a lot of devotion driven from the intensity of one religious belief was required. As it is evident in the beginning of the narration, one had to make a lot of sacrifices or instead chose between spiritual encounters and social life. The narrator says that he decided to tear himself apart, quit his friends, and part his parents, whom he loved so much just because of his spiritual piety. "Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries" (Battuta, 1). This implies that were it not for the fact that he was more devoted to spiritual matters, he would have decided to leave his loved one to make such a journey. As such, it can be argued that such only the most devoted Muslims were able to make such kind of decision.

The other aspect that is revealed by this visitation is that there was a lot of hospitality in the Muslim world in the 14th century, especially among themselves. Reception is something scarce to come with, especially while in a strange land. However, regarding the visitation that was made by Battuta in different countries, he met many Muslims. Although they were strangers, they would show him some hospitality immediately; they realize that he is there fellow Muslims. During his stay in Alexandria, he enjoyed a lot of generosity from men, such as pious Shaykh al-Murshidi (Battuta, 2). This kind of hospitality was not only in Alexandrian as the narrator received similar treatment even in other parts such as Tunisia.

Nevertheless, some encounters show that Muslims during this period would show hospitality only to those with them in the same religion. As discussed above, Battuta was shown a lot of hospitality by those fellow Muslims. However, it can be argued that such generosity was revealed only after the realization that one is with the same Islamic faith. For example, when Battuta arrived in Tunisia together with his party, the population who came to meet them received all the other party members happily through all side greeting while no one bothered to great Battuta. The narrator goes ahead to say that the reason no one showed such a reception to him is that he was not known to them (Battuta, 1). This implies that Muslims would show some hospitality only to fellow Muslims. This can be ascertained by the fact that in all the other occasions where Battuta was recognized as a Muslim, he received a lot of hospitality from them.

Respect to those recognized as being sufficiently devoted to spiritual aspects is the other aspect that has been reviled about the Muslim world in the 14th century. The positions can show this that those considered as being devoted to Islamic religion were endowed despite where they are. In the narration, it doesn't take long for a reader to realize that Battuta was a strong devoted to Islamic religious faith. As such, some respect was shown to him even in foreign countries as a result of his devotion to Islamic belief. For example, while he was in Tunis, a pilgrim caravan was formed for the Hijaz, and he was nominated as the qadi or the judge (Battuta, 1). Being given such a responsibility was due to the respect he was given regarding his devotion in the Islamic faith. Besides, other aspects such as being allowed to get a hand in marriage with the daughter of a prominent person also show that he was more respected. When in Tripoli, a daughter of one of the syndics was conducted to him, which indicates that the Muslims in Tunis more valued him. There is also enough evidence that other holly men were greatly respected. For example, pious Shaykh al-Murshidi, who was also a devotee in Islamic religion due to his bestowed spiritual gift, was too much respected to the extent of even the sultan paying him several visits (Battuta, 2).

The other thing is that the travel shows that the Muslims in the 14th century also valued and respected other religions. There is no evidence of any kind of persecution among Muslims and Christianity. Through Battuta's visitation to the Christians sanctuaries, it shows that despite being a Muslim, he also respected the Christian faith (Battuta, 4). Respect for others despite their religion was also the aspect that facilitated peaceful interaction with people from all corners of the world, such as in trade. According to the narrator, in Mogadishu Somalia, all types of merchants were received by the inhabitants with gifts that show that there was no social conflict as a result of religious faith (Battuta, 6).

Battuta's Religious Piety

Battuta's religious piety shaped his journey in two ways. One of them is that his devotion to the Islamic faith is what leads to his decision making of traveling to visit the sanctuaries. He had a long-cherished desire, which compelled him to make a decision of leaving all social aspects he loved behind and fulfill his spiritual desire to visit religious sanctuaries (Battuta, 10. The other thing is that his religious piety shaped his travel by allowing him to secure interaction, reception, and hospitality in every part he visited. As discussed above, those recognized as being more devoted to Islamic religion were shown some respect even in a foreign land (Battuta, 8). As such, his intense devotion in the Islamic religion gave him a smooth passage in all the Islamic places he traveled to. This shaped his travel since if this was not the case, he would have a lot of challenges and probable he would not have made it.

Battuta narration provided some insight into the Islamic world in the 14th century. This can be realized through his encounters, beliefs, and interaction he had with those he met during his travel. One aspect is that the element of deciding to make visitation to the holy sanctuaries was considered as a prove for intense devotion in the Islamic religion as it involved a lot of sacrifices. The other thing is that Islam could interact freely by others despite their country of origin. Besides, there is also some evidence that those considered as being more devoted to the Islamic faith were respected by other Muslims all over. Nevertheless, Battuta's religious piety is what shaped his travel starting from how he reached this kind of decision, his determination to face all possible challenges in his journey, and also how it helped him easily interact with other Muslims whenever he traveled to.

Works Cited

Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354, tr. and ed. H. A. R. Gibb (London: Broadway House, 1929)