What did Ibn Battuta see in Isfahan and Tabriz?

"Beside the river stood a magnificent mosque accessible by stairs and surrounded by gardens. We traveled that day through gardens, waters, fine villages, and pigeon towers, reaching the city of Isfahan in Iraqi Ajm after the Azhar prayer. The name Isfahan can be pronounced with a soft or emphatic fa. Isfahan is one of the great and beautiful cities, but now much of it lies in ruins due to the conflict between the Sunnis and the Shia, which continues to this day, keeping them in constant strife."

"wives, followed by everyone else. We traveled with this group for ten days, then I went with Emir Alauddin Muhammad to the town of Tabriz. He was one of the great, honorable commanders, and we arrived at the city of Tabriz after ten days. We camped outside it, in a place called Al-Sham, where lies the tomb of Ghazan, king of Iraq. There, a fine school and lodging house provides bread, meat, rice cooked in ghee, and sweets for travelers. The Emir had me stay in the lodging, set amid flowing rivers and lush trees. The next day, I entered the city through a gate called Bab Baghdad, and arrived at an immense market known as the Market of Ghazan,"

"valley and pray for blessings from this saint. May Allah be pleased with him. The Boatman's Sail Standing Up Al-Ubula was a great city once, sought by merchants from India and Persia, but now it is desolate, leaving only palaces and other structures as markers of its former greatness. We set sail on the Persian Sea in a small vessel owned by a man from Al-Ubula called Magamas, after sunset, heading towards Abadan, a large village without cultivation, where many mosques, sanctuaries, and lodgings for the righteous exist. It is three miles from the shore. Ibn Juzay said, Abadan was a city in the past, barren and without crops, relying"

"returning by the same route if possible, and I had intended to head for Baghdad in Iraq. Some people in Basra advised me to travel through Lur's land, then to Persian Iraq, and finally to Arab Iraq. I followed their advice, reaching Majul within four days. Pronounced Fa'ool, its jim is distinctive. It is a small town by the coast of the Gulf we mentioned, which extends from the Persian Sea. Its land is saline, lacking trees and vegetation, but it boasts one of the largest markets. I stayed there for a day, and then rented a pack animal from grain merchants, who bring grain from Ramiz to Majul. We journeyed"

"capture him wherever his likeness is found. Ibn Juzayy described a similar instance from history, recounting the tale of Shapur II, the Persian king, who once entered Roman territories in disguise and attended a banquet held by their king. His image appeared on a vessel, alerting one of Caesar's servants, who then identified him as the Persian king."

"We boarded a haraka-like ship, while the emir's son took another ship filled with entertainers and musicians. They sang in Chinese, Arabic, and Persian, with the emir's son particularly fond of Persian songs, repeatedly requesting them until I memorized one from hearing it so often. It had a wonderful melody, and was as follows."

"God Almighty knows the truth of what I say, and He is sufficient as a witness. What I narrate is widely reported and known in places near India, like Yemen, Khorasan, and Persia, filled with news about Him. They know it as truth, especially His generosity to foreigners, preferring them over the people of India. He bestowed abundant kindness upon them, granting them high positions and great gifts. His favor upon them was such that He called them the honored ones, and forbade referring to them as strangers, saying that calling someone a stranger breaks their spirit and changes their condition. I will mention some of His numerous generous gifts and benevolence, God willing."

"his brother's inheritance and claimed kingship. The armies pledged allegiance to him, and he set out for Persia, arriving at the city of Shonqara, where Imam A'dud al-Din, previously mentioned, resided. When he camped outside the city, its elders delayed in coming out to pledge allegiance to him. He asked them why they delayed, but when they tried to apologize, he did not accept their excuses. He said to his armed men, Kelij Jekar, meaning, draw the swords, and they unsheathed them and beheaded a great number of the people. When the neighboring princes heard of what transpired in Shonqara, they were enraged. They wrote to Shams al-Din"