Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair

KFAS and 1001 Inventions launch new Arabic children’s book about 9th –century scholar and explorer Al-Jahiz and his book on animals.

Kuwait, 15 November 2017: 1001 Inventions and The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) launched today at the Kuwait International Book Fair a children’s book about 9th century explorer Al-Jahiz and his book on animals in the Arabic language.

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book FairThe book launch comes as part of a special show organised by 1001 Inventions and KFAS in partnership with the National Council for Culture, Art and Literature to honour Al-Jahiz and raise awareness about issues related to nature and animal conservation at this year’s Book Fair.

The new first-of-its-kind Children’s book that will be unveiled at the Al-Jahiz stand at the Book Fair is a unique title featuring the animal kingdom through the eyes of 9th century explorer Al-Jahiz who, in addition to being a famous writer of prose, wrote an encyclopedic work about animals that is probably the first book to be written in the Arabic language about the topic.

It features Al-Jahiz’s story together with interesting facts about animals mentioned in his book of animals. Full of dazzling illustrations, witty stories and proverbs, the book takes readers on a wondrous journey of discovery and focuses them on the importance of looking after animals and the environment to keep a balance in nature. This new book will find new audiences and build on the success other 1001 Inventions that have distributed over 1 million copies worldwide.

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair

The special show and festival that accompanies the book is a family-oriented engaging educational experience. It aims to introduce Al-Jahiz to visitors and highlight the values associated with animal care and looking after the environment that are deeply rooted in the culture of this region. The festival comprises exhibits, interactive digital games, hands-on workshops, and screening of a short new film about Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals produced by 1001 Inventions in partnership with Al-Ain Zoo.

The festival and book are a tribute to 9th century explorer Al-Jahiz and are part of a new upcoming global educational campaign by 1001 Inventions that aims to create awareness about the dangers surrounding the natural world and prompt positive action – it’s a journey to draw lessons from the past to help safeguard the future.

The Al-Jahiz stand welcomes visitors at the Kuwait International Book Fair at the entrance of hall 7 between 15 and 25 November.

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair

About KFAS

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) is a private non-profit organization with over 40 years history of supporting the advancement of science and technology in Kuwait. KFAS operations are overseen by a Board of Directors chaired by His Highness, the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It is financially supported by Kuwaiti private shareholding companies through their generous contributions that currently amount to 1% of their annual net profit.

KFAS mission is to stimulate, support, and invest in initiatives and human resources that contribute to building a strong science, technology, and innovation culture and to fostering an enabling environment. The initiatives include improving public understanding of science; strengthening innovation and research capacity and enhancing an enabling environment; supporting the gifted and talented; translating knowledge into innovation; and nurturing a solid foundation for a national knowledge-based economy by developing the private sector’s scientific, technological…

www.kfas.com

About 1001 Inventions

1001 Inventions is an award-winning, British based organization that creates international educational campaigns and engaging transmedia productions aiming to raise awareness of the contributions to science, technology and culture from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation.

1001 Inventions has engaged with over 400 million people across the globe working with a network of international partners, including UNESCO, National Geographic and leading academics to produce interactive exhibits, short films, live shows, books and classroom learning materials that are being used by hundreds of thousands of educators around the world.

www.1001inventions.com

About Al-Jahiz

“Full name Abū ʿUthman ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Kinānī al-Baṣrī (776-868-9) was an Arab prose writer and author of works of literature, Mu’tazili theology, and politico-religious polemics. His great work, Kitab al-Hayawan (Book of the Animals) is an encyclopedia of seven volume of anecdotes, poetic descriptions and proverbs describing over 350 varieties of animals.”

“The Kitab Al-Hayawan was the object of many studies, and had great influence upon later scientists from Muslim Civilisation, and via them upon European thinkers (especially upon Lamarck and Darwin). And it became the source for later books on zoology. Al-Jahiz’s many sentences are quoted by Ikhwan al-Safa and Ibn Miskawayh, and many passages are quoted by Zakariyya’ al-Qazwini (1203-1282) in his ‘Aja’ib al-Makhluqat, and by Mustawfi al-Qazwini (1281- ?) in his Nuzkat al-Qulub; and al-Damiri in his Hayat al-Hayawan’, and still continues to inspire the scientists today.”

www.muslimheritage.com/scholars/al-jahiz

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals at the Kuwait Book Fair