IBN BATTUTA’S PRAISE FOR THE GOOD MUSLIMS OF MALI, 1352
HONESTY
“They do not interfere with the property of the white man who dies in their country even though it may consist of great wealth, but rather, they entrust it to the hand of someone dependable among the white men, until it is taken by the rightful claimant.”
PIETY
“…they meticulously observe the times of prayer…When it is Friday, if a man does not come early to the Mosque he will not find a place to pray because of the numbers of the crowd.”
CLEANLINESS
“… putting on of good white clothes on Friday. If a man among them has nothing except a tattered shirt he washes and cleans it and attends the Friday prayer in it.”
I need to illustrate what Ibn Battuta saw according to this description, but I have no artistic creativity. Any ideas?
Certainly! Here are a few suggestions for illustrating Ibn Battuta's observations:
HONESTY:
- Create a simple illustration of a white man who has passed away in Mali, with a trustworthy-looking person nearby holding a box or chest, symbolizing the entrusted wealth.
- You can depict the person holding the wealth as someone dependable and responsible, perhaps wearing traditional clothing to represent the Mali culture.
PIETY:
- Draw a mosque with a large crowd of people, either from an aerial perspective or in a close-up view. Show the crowd praying during Friday prayers, with men, women, and children all finding their space to pray.
- You may want to include some details to portray the reverence and devotion, such as people facing Mecca, performing ablution before prayer, and individuals in various prayer postures.
CLEANLINESS:
- Illustrate a man in tattered clothes meticulously washing and cleaning them, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and preparing for Friday prayer.
- This could be represented by showing the process of washing, such as a man near a river or water source, carefully cleaning his shirt with a determined expression.
Remember, you don't have to be an artistic genius to create meaningful illustrations. Simple and clear drawings can effectively convey the message and capture the essence of Ibn Battuta's observations.