The correct option is 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan traveler who visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the 14th century. His travelogue, the Rihla, provides extensive geographical and social details of the regions he visited, including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. While Ibn Battuta did visit the Maldives, he did not refuse the office of qazi. In fact, he stayed in the Maldives for eighteen months and actively served as the qazi (judge) during his stay. He eventually left due to political friction with the ruling elite.
- Statement 2 is Correct. After leaving the Maldives, he visited Sri Lanka (making a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak). He later travelled to Bengal (specifically to meet the Sufi saint Shah Jalal in Sylhet) and Assam (referred to in his accounts as the mountains of Kamaru).
- Statement 3 is Correct. Continuing his journey eastward from Bengal, he took a ship to Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) and from there sailed to the Chinese port town of Zaytun (identified as modern-day Quanzhou).
Key Takeaway:
Ibn Battuta served as a qazi (judge) in both Delhi (appointed by Muhammad bin Tughlaq) and the Maldives. His journey to China was undertaken as an envoy of the Delhi Sultan, taking him through Southeast Asia.