«Bayt Al-Hikma» and its role in the development of Islamic education

Abstract

The Bayt al-Hikma (Arabic: «House of Wisdom») was a library, translation institute and research center established in Abbasid-era Baghdad, Iraq. It was a key institution in the Translation Movement and is considered to have been a major intellectual hub during the Islamic Golden Age. The House of Wisdom was founded by Caliph Abu Jagfar al-Mansur and culminated under Harun al-Rashid and his son al-Ma’mun, who reigned from 813 to 833 and is credited with its institution. Based in Baghdad from the 9th to 13th centuries, many learned scholars including those of Persian or Christian background were part of this research and educational institute. Besides translating books to Arabic and preserving them, scholars associated with the Bayt al-Hikma also made many remarkable original contributions to diverse fields.