The Travels of Ibn Battuta

By Genaro Aguilera-Reza

Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer, geographer, diplomat, and scholar that lived in the 1300s. He was born in Tangiers, Marinid Morocco. In 1325, when he was only 20 years old, he left Morocco with the original intention to do the Hajj to Mecca. His eagerness to explore the Muslim world took him on a trip that lasted about 30 years. During this time he was able to visit the equivalent of 44 modern countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. While traveling, he focused on observing how different communities lived and examined their traditions and customs.

He held several diplomatic posts and met with several government officials. Besides his religious duty of completing the Hajj, Ibn Batutta decided to continue his trip for career advancement, to become a well-traveled man, and for the enjoyment of travel. When he came back to Morocco, he was requested to write about his travels in his autobiography called the Rilah and worked as an Islamic judge for the rest of his life.

Often overlooked by other explorers such as Marco Polo and Zheng He, Ibn Battuta is regarded as one of the most influential Muslim explorers and has a lasting legacy in the Middle East. His legacy lives on the name of the airport in Tangiers, a mall in Dubai and in the minds of travelers that desire to follow his trails.

Most recently, a team of UNESCO and NATGEO photographers has started the Al Safar project, which embarks in the journey to follow the steps of Ibn Battuta. The goal of this project is to show the diversity of Muslim cultures and tackle prejudice and xenophobia. Check out the interactive map below to see some of the highlights and places that the most famous Muslim explorer might have encountered during his travels.

Main image: History Channel