Which of the following is not true about Ibn Battuta?

The correct answer is: He was ordered in 1342 to proceed to Persia as the envoy of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Let us analyze the statements step-by-step to understand why this statement is incorrect (not true) regarding Ibn Battuta, while the others are historically accurate:

1. Birth and Background: Ibn Battuta was indeed born in Tangier, Morocco, into a respected and educated family known for their expertise in Islamic religious law (shari'a). Therefore, the statement about his birth and family background is true.

2. Observations on Muslin: In his travelogue (the Rihla), Ibn Battuta documented various aspects of Indian trade, agriculture, and textiles. He noted that certain high-quality varieties of fine muslin were extremely expensive and could only be worn by the wealthy or royalty, making this statement historically true.

3. The Envoy Mission in 1342: In 1342, the Sultan of Delhi, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, did order Ibn Battuta to proceed as his envoy. However, he was not sent to Persia. He was instead appointed as the Sultan's envoy to China (the Mongol court of the Yuan Dynasty). Because the destination in the statement is incorrectly specified as Persia rather than China, this statement is false, making it the correct option for this question.