Great literature

"Al-Adab Al-Kabir" (The Great Literature) by Abdullah ibn al-Muqaffa is a pillar of timeless Arab heritage, a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge brimming with moral and intellectual depth. In this unique work, Ibn al-Muqaffa combines Persian wisdom with the Arab spirit, blending the universal human experience with the eloquence of authentic Arabic style. The book is divided into two main topics: the first deals with "the Sultan" and the morals and etiquette a ruler should possess to ensure sound and just rule; the second revolves around "friends" and the kindness and good manners upon which friendship is based, becoming a mirror of sublime humanity. This work gains its exceptional value from being written during the Abbasid era, the time of true prosperity of Arabic prose. Its lofty language, its profound meaning, its enduring impact, deserves to be read thoughtfully and reread again and again.

عبد الله بن المقفع (720–757م) كاتب ومترجم فارسي الأصل. اشتهر بترجمة «كليلة ودمنة» إلى العربية. دعا إلى العقلانية والإصلاح الاجتماعي في كتاباته. ويُعد من رواد النثر العربي الكلاسيكي.