By Myia Hamed
SHARJAH — The Center of Arab Studies and Islamic Civilizations at the American University of Sharjah is hosting a panel at the Sharjah International Book Fair that discusses the history of translation and adaptation of Greek knowledge in the early Islamic world.
The CASIC panel, “Greek Knowledge in Arabic: Why, What, and How,” which will be held at Forum 3 from 4 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, will examine the translation movement, when texts on philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and natural science were translated from Greek into Arabic.
This forum will delve into how this part of history reshaped Islamic thought.
Dr. Said Faiq, professor of intercultural studies and translation at AUS, said that Greek philosophical ideals, like logic, ethics and reasoning, were fundamental to this movement.
“Translators didn’t just copy texts,” Faiq said. “They interpreted Greek ideas, like Aristotle’s logic or Plato’s ethical frameworks, and integrated them into an Islamic worldview, blending reason with spiritual and cultural principles.”
The Director of CASIC and Professor of Islamic Ethics and Philosophy, Dr. Nuha Alshaar, said the theme aligns with this year’s book fair, where Greece is the Guest of Honor.
“It’s a tribute to the intellectual dialogue between Arab and Greek cultures,” she said. “At CASIC, we aim to highlight how Muslim scholars didn’t merely preserve Greek knowledge but transformed it into something new.”
She added that the translation movement gained momentum under the Abbasid Caliphs through institutions like the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. “These translations brought Arab and Muslim scholars into direct engagement with Greek learning,” Alshaar said. “They laid the groundwork for remarkable scientific, philosophical, and medical advancements.”
Dr. Marco Zuccato, associate professor of history at AUS, emphasized the long-term impact of these exchanges. “Arabic translations of Greek texts later became the foundation for European scholarship,” he said. “By engaging with Greek knowledge, Islamic scholars preserved, interpreted, and expanded these ideas, creating a bridge between civilizations.”
Greek medical texts, like those of Hippocrates and Galen, were translated and adapted in hospitals and schools across the Islamic world. At the same time, the works of Aristotle influenced philosophy, ethics and logic in new contexts. Mathematics and astronomy, including the works of Ptolemy and Euclid, were also studied, refined and transmitted further, demonstrating the depth of intellectual exchange.
Dr. Alshaar noted that the translation process was complex. “Greek texts were often rendered into Arabic through Syriac, which sometimes caused linguistic ambiguities,” she said. “Yet, this very process encouraged creativity, inspiring scholars to reinterpret and expand on the knowledge they inherited.”
She added that this historical exchange remains relevant today. “Like the Abbasid era’s openness to learning, our modern world depends on collaboration and shared knowledge,” Alshaar said. “The translation movement reminds us that progress thrives on curiosity, respect, and cooperation.”
Dr. Faiq noted that understanding these historical processes offers lessons for today. “The translation movement is a reminder that ideas flourish when they cross cultural and linguistic boundaries. It’s a story of curiosity, adaptation, and collaboration,” Faiq said.
The event will be open to scholars, students and anyone interested in the intersections of history, philosophy and cross-cultural knowledge.
