Ibn Battutas 1331 Journey to West Africa Essay -- Gender Roles, Mecca

Ibn Battutas 1331 journey to due west Africa provides a contrast of cardinal worlds Battutas pre-modern Islamic culture conflicting with African societies interpretation of Islamic beliefs and tribal traditions. He is especially critical of the various roles of women he observesthus, allowing us insight into his own judgments formed by his culture and society. A shortened summary of his life is paramount in the understanding of Battutas impressions and reactions to West African society. Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta was born in Morocco in 1304. By 1325, Battuta embarked on his offset printing hadj, or pilgrimage to the holiest Islamic city of Mecca at age cardinal (Hamdun, King, p. 1). Although expected to complete this religious duty at least at a time in his or her lifetime, Battuta accomplished the hajj, six or seven times, apiece time presumably accruing divine merit (Dunn, p. xvii). Battuta was a part of the ulama, an elect(ip) class of Moslem religious and legal scholars who, traveled to make the hajj or to further their education in the religious sciences (Dunn, p. xii). Battuta traveled extensively for nearly thirty years, visiting around fifty countries, often treble times (Dunn, p. ix). He chronicled his lengthy expeditions in the Rihla (Book of Travels), allowing some of the first and whole written accounts of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 14th century. Battutas beliefs regarding status of women in Islamic society is perhaps first alluded to in his account of the visionfa of wltan. He chides, The condition of these people is strange and their politeness outlandishNone of them derives his genealogy from his father, but on the contrary, from his maternal uncle (Battuta, p. 37). Battuta disagrees with the fortunefas tradition of matrilineal derive... ...and counted among his associates eminent scholars, royal officials, rich merchants, and Mongol Kings (Dunn, p. ix). It is these experiences that withal allow us to also extrapolate some of the r ealities and experiences of the pre-modern Muslim woman. It is these same experiences during this formative period of Islamic society that established and determine the contemporary Islamic world. Today, just as Ibn Battuta was able to observe different cultures through caravans on camelback, Muslim men and women are now heart-to-heart to various cultures in our globalized world through technology without having to travel far. And also just as Battuta, these same men and women are also experiencing the both(prenominal) strengthening and testing of his or her cultural and religious identity. The social constructs of Battutas era are being challenged through revolutions and uprisings throughout Islam.