Abstract

Like other branches of knowledge, the ancient wisdom literature of India also appealed to Arab - Muslims a great deal. As is well-known, this country was rich in fable literature, a narrative form, usually featuring animals and birds that behave and speak as human beings. Fables and stories were mostly narrated by wise men of India to highlight human follies and weaknesses. They also sought to instruct through them the common people and rulers on popular levels of wisdom. The two great story works of Indian origin- Kalilah wa Dimnah and The Thousand and One Nights. Popularly known as The Arabian Nights - are monumental testimony to high levels of Indian wisdom. They became in the course of time popular not only in the Arab world, but also in all parts of the rest of the world as important pieces of international literature through translations of their Arabic versions into all major European and Asian languages.

Description