During his journey, Ibn Battutah stops in the city of Baghdad in modern day Iraq. Ibn Battutah comments on the cultural, religious, and communal locations that are noteworthy in the city. He also notes the general geographic layout of the city. Ibn Battutah spends around half of his writing about Baghdad speaking about the physical buildings and their characteristics, functions, and histories. Ibn Battutah starts by noting that Baghdad is nowhere near its former glory, having been sacked by the Mongols, but that it is still “the Abode of Peace and the capital of al-Islam.” This indicates that Ibn Battutah sees Baghdad as an influential city not only in its political influence, but in its religious influence. Ibn Battutah remarks that the Tigris River is the most beautiful thing left in Baghdad and speaks to its former glory.  Ibn Battutah continues by describing some of the popular locations in Baghdad. He speaks at length about the bath houses that are popular in Baghdad. Ibn Battutah describes the beautiful rocks and stone that are used in constructing them. He also compliments their ingenuity in designing the bath houses with “cubicles” so that no one has to share unless they wish, and everyone can retain their modesty. Ibn Battutah also talks about the location of the bazaars, saying that they are large and grand. Ibn Battutah does not only describe secular buildings, but also talks about religious buildings like mosques and colleges. Ibn Battutah mentions that there are 11 mosques that hold Friday prayer on the regular, and notes on which side of the Tigris they reside. He describes the Nizamiyah College, which has all four schools of Muslim jurisprudence, and talks about the accommodations they have there. Finally, Ibn Battutah talks about the king of al-Iraq who happened to be in Baghdad while he was visiting. He says that the name of this Sultan is Abu Sa’id Bahadur Khan and that his father was called Muhammad Khudabandah. Ibn Battutah explains that it was Khudabandah that converted to Islam. But about the current sultan, he says that he was young, beautiful, and generous, but was murdered by his gorgeous, but jealous wife after he married another wife.

Ibn Battutah’s description of Baghdad and his encounters there illuminates some of the issues he deems important to society. Ibn Battutah is always incredibly focused on religious matters. Ibn Battutah was a Muslim jurist so it makes sense that he is noting the location of mosques and the colleges for the education of jurists. But Ibn Battutah’s focus goes beyond the surface level, like with how he comments on the bath houses maintaining modesty and his acceptance of the punishment given to the sultan’s murderous wife. Ibn Battutah clearly took his job as a jurist seriously and cared about maintaining the correct morality for a Muslim society. Ibn Battutah also notes the important people in Baghdad, namely the sultan of Iraq. By naming the sultan and praising him, Ibn Battutah secures his own position of influence, because he reaffirms the structures in power.