The Influence of Nahj-ol-balaghe's Wise Words On the Arabic Translation of Kelile and Damene

Ibn Moghafa's Arabic Translation of kelile and Damene from Pahlavi is considered to be an innovation in literary and prose style which had been welcome by Arab writers and literary figures. The translation acquired a very lofty place in Arabic literature and seriously influenced future literary texts.Far from denying the Iranian and Indian origins of the text, the present study aims at demonstrating the fact that the Arabic translation had been influenced by Nahj-ol-balaghe as there are at least 8 statements and tens of themes in the text which are originally from Nahj-ol-balaghe. One might conclude that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has been one of Ibn Moghafa's sources in translating Kelile and Damene. Moreover, the translation could not have been welcome by Arab writers save by following Imam Ali's thought.