Funny story about Ibn Battuta’s visit to the Maldives

[Qeelbax]

Background: Ibn Battuta came from a long line of qadis (islamic judges) and had formal education in shariah and islamic law. This was apart of his job.

One of my favorite stories is when he ended up in the Maldives. They had recently converted to Islam and as a relatively learned man, they really wanted him to stay on as a judge for them. When I say 'really wanted', I mean pretty much kidnapped him and forced him into being a judge.

He ended up making so many overly strict rulings (like being upset that all the Maldivian women went around topless) that they kicked him out and let him go on his way.

 

[Yaraye]

 

[Aurelian]

went around topless.

Yep, one should not take everything said as true.

 

[Qeelbax]

went around topless.

Yep, one should not take everything said as true.

It’s actually from his book. There’s a lot of dhaqans where women didn’t have to cover their tops historically, from West Africa all the way to Korea. I would have to read more about the Maldives to see if this was a thing pre-Islam but Ibn Battuta was actually a qadi in the maldives and wrote about it in his book.

“He set about his duties as a judge with enthusiasm and tried with all his might to establish the rule of strict Muslim law and change local customs. He ordered that any man who failed to attend Friday prayer was to be whipped and publicly disgraced. Thieves had their right hands cut off, and he ordered women who went "topless" to cover up. "I strove to put an end to this practice and commanded the women to wear clothes; but I could not get it done."

 

[Aurelian]

It’s actually from his book. There’s a lot of dhaqans where women didn’t have to cover their tops historically, from West Africa all the way to Korea. I would have to read more about the Maldives to see if this was a thing pre-Islam but Ibn Battuta was actually a qadi in the maldives and wrote about it in his book.

“He set about his duties as a judge with enthusiasm and tried with all his might to establish the rule of strict Muslim law and change local customs. He ordered that any man who failed to attend Friday prayer was to be whipped and publicly disgraced. Thieves had their right hands cut off, and he ordered women who went "topless" to cover up. "I strove to put an end to this practice and commanded the women to wear clothes; but I could not get it done."

They were muslims for 200 years before he came. How the hell they were topless, or they didn't have judge while sitting in the middle of the Islamic world and East Asia trade? His claims don't add up. He wrote everything he went through after decades they were happened. Everything happened needed to be remembered in few months to be written. Some even spotted weird claims from him. Some say he never visited some places he mentioned like China but took account from other books.

 

[Barni]

I am pretty sure it was very normal back then for south asian women to not wear blouses, it apparently changed because of the british.