Ibn al-Muqaffa's translation of the Kalīla wa Dimna from Middle Persian "is considered the first masterpiece of Arabic literary prose." "Ibn al-Muqaffa' was a pioneer in the introduction of literary prose narrative to Arabic literature. He paved the way for later innovators such as al-Hamadani and al-Saraqusti, who brought literary fiction to Arabic literature by adapting traditionally accepted modes of oral narrative transmission into literary prose. Ibn al-Muqaffa was also an accomplished scholar of Middle Persian, and was the author of several moral fables.
Ibn al-Muqaffa, though a resident of Basra, was originally from the town of Jur (or Gur) in the Iranian province of Fars. His father had been a state official in charge of taxes under the Umayyads, and after being accused and convicted of embezzling some of the money entrusted to him, was punished by the ruler by having his hand crushed, hence the name Muqaffa (shrivelled hand).
As stated by a number of historians, Ibn al-Muqaffa was murdered around 756 on the orders of the second Abbasid caliph Abu Ja`far al-Mansur reportedly for heresy and Zendiqism, in particular for attempting to import Zoroastrian ideas into Islam. There is evidence, though, that his murder may have been prompted by the caliph's resentment at the terms and language that Ibn al-Muqaffa had used in drawing up a guarantee of safe passage for the caliph's rebellious uncle, Abdullah b. Ali; the caliph found that document profoundly disrespectful to himself, and it is believed Ibn al-Muqaffa paid with his life for the affront to al-Mansur.
Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa should not be confused with Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa, an Egyptian Coptic historian.
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Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 23:50:50 PDT (GMT -0700)
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- Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa (d. c. 756), a Persian author and translator.
- Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa (d. 987), an Egyptian Copt Bishop, author and historian.
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Last updated on Tuesday May 27, 2008 at 07:35:39 PDT (GMT -0700)
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