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The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah), an Educational Institution during the Time of the Abbasid Dynasty. A Historical Perspective

Adel M. AbdulAziz Algeriani and Mawloud Mohadi

Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 27, Issue 2, June 2019

Keywords: Abbasid dynasty, caliphs, education, house of wisdom, knowledge transmission, reproductive translation movement

Published on: 28 June 2019

The era of the Abbasid Dynasty has been viewed by many historians as the Golden Age in Islamic history, during which several technological and educational advancements occurred. Education was regarded as a very fashionable and crucial element of the Abbasid society after the Caliphs realised the necessity of knowledge and wisdom to power the wheel of progress. This research historically analyses education in the reign of the Abbasid Dynasty that marked the beginning of one of the brightest ages in Islamic history, in particular and human civilisation in general. It investigates the role of one of the leading libraries in medieval times as well as the contributions of caliphs who had devoted their time and wealth to help develop the House of Wisdom. The study also explores the emergence of the educational institution, particularly Bayt al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) that preserved the reproductive translation movement, the knowledge transmission and the scientific progress, and in so doing, ensured the preservation of the knowledge and heritage of the ancient civilisations, contributing unprecedented discoveries to the western world which used these discoveries to progress. This study adopts a qualitative approach as its historical framework through which the authors analyse and investigate the development of the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah) and its impact on similar libraries on the basis of credible and primary sources that marked one of the brightest ages of Islamic history. The historical basis of the research framework gathers relevant information about the House of Wisdom and some other related aspects.

ISSN 0128-7702

e-ISSN 2231-8534

Article ID

JSSH-2328-2017

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