Anthology of Arabic Discourse on Translation

This anthology brings the key writings on translation in Arabic in the pre-modern era, extending from the earliest times (sixth century CE) until the end of World War I, to a global English-speaking audience. The texts are arranged chronologically and organized by two historical periods: the Classical Period, and the Nahda Period. Each text is preceded by an introduction about the selected text and author, placing the work in context, and discussing its significance. The texts are complemented with a theoretical commentary, discussing the significance for the contemporary period and modern theory. A general introduction covers the historical context, main trends, research interests, and main findings and conclusions. The two appendices provide statistical data of the corpus on which the anthology is based, more than 500 texts of varying lengths extending throughout the entire period of study. This collection contributes to the development of a more inclusive and global history of translation and interpreting. Translated, edited, and analyzed by leading scholars, this anthology is an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and translators interested in translation studies, Arab/Islamic history, and Arabic language and literature, as well as Islamic theology, linguistics, and the history of science. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Tarek Shamma is Associate Professor in comparative literature and translation studies at Binghamton University, NY. His recent publications include "In Search of Universal Laws: Averroes' Interpretation of Aristotle's Poetics", in World Literature (2021) and "Universal Wisdom, Islamic Law: Translation Discourse in Classical Arabic", in The Routledge Handbook of Translation History (2021). Myriam Salama-Carr is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies. She is the author of La Traduction à l'époque abbasside (1990). Her publications include "Mapping an Arabic Discourse on Translation" in The Routledge Handbook of Arabic Translation (2020), and "L'École de Bagdad", Équivalences (2020). Consultant: Mona Baker is Affiliate Professor at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Education, University of Oslo, Norway. She is author of In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation (Routledge, third edition 2018) and Translation and Conflict: A Narrative Account; and editor of the Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (Routledge, third edition, 2020).

List of Contributors Acknowledgement Transliteration Guide Introduction The Classical Period (c. 500 CE-1800 CE) Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafi'i, Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Ibn Qaiym al-Jawziya From Hadith and Islamic Jurisprudence (632) Abu 'Abdullah Al-Waqidi, Abu Jarir al-Tabari, Abu al-Qasim Ibn 'Asakir Interpreters in Islamic Conquests (823) Hunain Ibn Ishaq Epistle Regarding What Was Translated of Galen's Books (859) Abu 'Uthman al-Jahidh Book of Animals (869) 'Abdullah al-Hashimi, 'Abd al-Masih al-Kindi The Letter of 'Abdullah al-Hashimi to 'Abd al-Masih al-Kindi, Inviting him to Islam, and al-Kindi's Response, Inviting al-Hashimi to Christianity (9th-11th centuries) Abu Bakr Ibn Wahshiya Nabataean Agriculture (930) Matta Ibn Yunus, Abu Sa'id al-Sirafi Debate on the Merits of Grammar and Logic (935) Sa'diya (Gaon) al-Fayumi Explanation of the Torah in Arabic (941) Abu al-Hasan Al-Mas'udi Meadows of Gold (957) Muhammad Ibn Ishaq Ibn al-Nadim The Index (990) Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi Approximating the Scope of Logic (1063) Abu al-Walid Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Commentary on Aristotle's Poetics (1198) Jamal al-Din Al-Qifti History of Wise Men (1248) Abu Sa'id Ibn Abi al-Husain Translation of Samaritan Torah (13th century) Unknown Author The Chronicles of Time (late 13th century) Abu al-'Abbas Ibn Abi Usaibi'a Classes of Physicians (1270) Anonymous Treaties between Muslim States and Italian Cities (14th-16th centuries) Taqi al-Din Ibn Taimiya Collected Fatwas, Refutation of al-Jahmiya, Response to Those Who Changed the Religion of Christ (1328) Salah al-Din Al-Safadi Commentary on the L-Rhymed Poem (1363) Ibrahim Al-Shatibi The Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law (1388) Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi On the Fundamentals of Jurisprudence, On the Rules of Jurisprudence, On the Sciences of the Qur'an (1392) 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Khaldun Ibn Khaldun's Journey (1406) Abu al-'Abbas al-Qalqashandi The Craft of Composition (1418) Muhammad Ibn Bilal A Treatise on the Translation of the Qur'an (1543) Yahia Ibn 'Ali al-Rifa'i Translation of Ulugh Beg's Astronomical Tables (16th century) Sarkis Ibn Musa al-Rizzi The Holy Scriptures in Arabic (1671) The Nahda Period (1800 CE-1918 CE) 'Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti The History of Al-Jabarti (1822) Muhammad 'Ali Pasha Document for Appointing Rifa'a al-Tahtawi (1831) Promotion of Al-Tahtawi to the Rank of Amiralay (1846) Marun al-Naqqash Speech Delivered at the Staging of The Miser (1848) Butrus al-Bustani Translation of Robinson Crusoe (1861) Eli Smith, Cornelius Van Dyck, Nasif al-Yaziji, Butrus al-Bustani The Bible, that is the Old and New Testaments, Newly Translated from Hebrew and Greek Languages (1865) Simeon Calhoun The Seekers' Guide to the Precious Bible (1869) James Shepard Dennis Proofs of the Fundamental Truth of Christianity (1877) Ahmad Faris al-Shidiaq Revealing the Hidden Arts of Europe (1866) Augustin Rodet, Ibrahim al-Yaziji The Holy Bible (The Jesuit Translation) First Edition (1876-1881) Second Edition (1897) Ahmad Zaki Pasha Official Documents about His Service as a Translator (1887-1896) Muhammad 'Uthman Jalal Edifying Plays in the Art of Tragedy (1893) The Tale of Qabul and Ward Jinna (1912) Khalil Baidas, Jurji Zaidan "Arabization" (1895) Ibrahim al-Yaziji "Language and this Age" (1897) Jurji Zaidan, Hilmi Halim, Selim Effendi Sa'eed Copyright of Authorship and Translation (1899-1905) Rashid Rida, Muhammad 'Abdo, Shibli Nu'mani Translation in Islamic History (1900-1912) Hafidh 'Ibrahim Translation of Les Misérables (1903) Sulaiman al-Bustani Homer's Iliad (1904) Various Authors "Celebrating the Translator of the Iliad" (al-Muqtataf Magazine) (1904) Ahmad Fahmi Europe's Crime against itself and the World (1906) Muhammad al-Saiyd, Muhammad 'Awad Ibrahim, W. H. Stevens Modern Guide for the Translator (1906) Khalil Sa'ada, Rashid Rida The Gospel of Barnabas (1908) Anonymous "Copyright Law" (1910) Amin al-Rihani "Poetry and Poets" (1910) 'Ali 'Umar al-Misri "Translation Lessons" (1912) Ernest Ni'matalla "'La Marseillaise': History of the French National Anthem and its Translation into Arabic" (1918) Bibliography Appendices Appendix (1): Statistical Tables for the Classical Period Appendix (2): Statistical Tables for the Nahda Period Index