The renowned literary work “Kalila wa Dimna” by Abdullah Ibn Al-Muqaffa’, is featured once again at the 33rd Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2024) under the “Book of the World” initiative. This initiative spotlights the work’s timeless narrative, which delves into mythical tales and moral lessons relevant to all eras and places.

The selection of “Kalila wa Dimna” for the Fair was intentional, reflecting its noble purpose of social reform. This book is part of the “Mirrors for Princes” literary genre, which educates future leaders by imparting wisdom through the adventures and dialogues of human and animal characters.

The “Book of the World” initiative makes its debut in the current edition of the Fair, aiming to fortify global cultural heritage by featuring some of the most influential books on human consciousness. These selections are made annually based on stringent critical criteria.

In a session titled “Kalila wa Dimna: From Manuscripts to Modern Literary Readings”, the Fair explored how the book uses folklore to promote virtues over vices.

The session was moderated by noted media personality Hassan Alshazli, and featured Dr. Mohamed Soliman, Head of the Cultural Communication Sector at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria), Ehab Mallah, writer, critic, journalist, and researcher specialising in heritage and cultural history, and Dr. Chahrazad Alarabi, author and specialised researcher.

The panelists concurred that the Arabic version by Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa’ is the seminal text from which all translations have been derived.

They highlighted the book’s ongoing appeal to theorists across various disciplines including knowledge, science, and politics, due to its rich narrative style. This complexity not only makes interpretation challenging but also allows for multiple valid interpretations, giving the book a lasting relevance.