Synopsis
This is the true story of Ishaq, a young boy in ninth-century Baghdad. And it is the story of the House of Wisdom. More than a house, more than a library, more even than a palace, the House of Wisdom was at the very center of the new ideas that flourished in Baghdad. It was here that thousands of scholars gathered to read, to exchange ideas, and to translate the dusty manuscripts that were brought by camel and ship from all over the world. Ishaq cannot understand why ancient words, words from faraway places, can cause such excitement. Then he embarks on a difficult journey seeking lost manuscripts. But it is what he discovers when he returns that ignites his imagination and changes him forever. Lyrical prose and glorious illustrations capture the splendor of Baghdad when it was the center of one of the world's great civilizations. They tell the story of Ishaq's transformation from a bewildered young boy searching for understanding to a brilliant scholar, the greatest translator of Aristotle, whose work preserved Greek thought for civilizations to come.- ★★★★★
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Mindful Muslim Review
“While Europe struggled darkly through poverty, ignorance, and superstition, the Arabic-speaking world was rediscovering the legacy of ancient Greece and had reached a level of civilization that Europe would not see for centuries.” This gorgeously illustrated picture book introduces children to a remarkable period of time in our Islamic history—the Golden Age of Islam. Created in the 8th century under the Abbasid caliphate, the House of Wisdom in Baghdad served as a beacon of light for scholars of all faiths from all over the world, a place where knowledge was treasured and scholarship was revered. Known as Bayt al-Hikma, this was a home unlike any other—a home for translators and scholars. Their study allowed for the preservation, development, and sharing of Persian, Indian and Greek knowledge, paving the way for the European Renaissance. Hunayn was one of the greatest translators of this time. In this story, he gently guides his son Ishaq, teaching him the importance of humility and self-discipline on the path to knowledge, the value of knowledge from the past, and our connection to those before us and those after us. This tribute to our Islamic heritage combined with gems of wisdom earn this book our Gold Star. The back matter gives important historical context that can be used as a stepping stone to learn more about this very special time in our history.
