Why did Ibn Battuta fear for his life while serving in Delhi?

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Engraving of Ibn Battuta in Egypt, standing on a decorated stone block with another man, overlooking ancient Egyptian columns and palm trees in the background. — Ibn Battuta Ibn Baṭṭūṭah (right) with an Egyptian man in Egypt.

While serving as the grand qadi of Delhi, Ibn Battuta feared for his life due to the unpredictable and volatile nature of the ruler, Muhammad ibn Tughluq.1

Although the Sultan was known for his generosity, he was also a "suspicious despot" who ruled with an iron hand, treating both high-ranking officials and commoners with indiscriminate cruelty. Ibn Battuta frequently witnessed his friends and associates fall victim to the Sultan’s whims, which left him in a constant state of terror and uncertainty regarding his own safety. Despite taking precautions, Ibn Battuta eventually fell into disgrace and only narrowly escaped death through good fortune before later being appointed as an envoy.1