Backgrounds of Translation Movement Dynamism at Sahl-bin-Haroun’s Era

Abstract

Arabic culture and literature experienced significant changes through political, economic, and cultural relations with civilized countries, especially Iran, reaching the peak with the advent of Islam, Arab world familiarization with other nations’ sciences and knowledge, and translation movement in Abbasid era. Persian scholar and translator of this age, Sahl-bin-Haroun, shone gloriously in literature among Arab society to the extent that scholars like Jahez and Ibn-al-Nadim called him “Islam Bozorgmehr.” He presented Persian society and Arabic culture through valuable Persian and translation works. The present study aims at investigating the backgrounds of translation movement and the influence of Persians on the excellence of Arabic literature with an emphasis on the role of Sahl-ibn-Haroun using a descriptive-analytical method. The peak of Arabs-Persians intellectual interaction was during the third and fourth Hijri centuries; as Persian scholars’ wisdom, proverbs, tales, allegories and sages were found among Arabs’ works. During that time, the well-skilled writing style and delicate language of Persians employed Arabic works as their thoughts and feelings’ representative. Persian figures’ dominance in Al-Ma’mun’s court and Caliphs’ preference for companionship with Persians were among causes making Iranian culture more dominant and translation movement far prosperous.