List of encyclopedias in Arabic


This is a list of encyclopedias in the Arabic language.

History

The Arabic word for encyclopedia is mawsūʿah. It is derived from the word wāsiʿ, which means "wide".
The early Arabic compilations of knowledge in the Middle Ages included many comprehensive works, and much development of what would become known as the scientific method, historical method, and citation. The first Arab encyclopedist was Ibn Qutaybah, who wrote a number of books organizing the knowledge of his day, most importantly 'Uyun Al-Akhbar. About 960 AD, the Brethren of Purity of Basra were engaged in their Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity, which may be a unique example of a classical Arabic encyclopedia written by a group rather than a solitary scholar. Other notable works include Abu Bakr al-Razi's encyclopedia of science, the Mutazilite al-Kindi's prolific output of 270 books, and Ibn Sina's The Canon of Medicine, which was a standard reference work for centuries. Also notable are works of universal history from the Asharites, al-Tabri, al-Masudi, al-Tabari's History of the Prophets and Kings, Ibn Rustah, Ali ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Khaldun's Muqadimmah.
Following the conquests of much of the Arab world by the Ottoman Empire, few Arabic encyclopedias were published until the 1950s. Modern Arabic encyclopedias include the online Marefa project. In 2006, the Arab League proposed the creation of a new online encyclopedia in Arabic.

Historic encyclopedias

Kitāb al-ṣifāt fi ʾl-lugha by al-Nadr ibn Shumayl 'Uyun Al-Akhbar by Ibn Qutaybah Al-ʿIqd al-Farīd Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity Kitab al-Aghani Al-Tasrif The Canon of Medicine

Contemporary encyclopedias

Print

Arab Encyclopedia Arabic Legislations Encyclopedia Khalf Aswar el Elm MarefaAl-ArabiMawsooat Al mawsooa Al tarikheya lel-alam al Arabi Anabaa
  • ''Marefah''

Digital

General

Dahsha Intaaj

Scientific

Arabic Chemistry Encyclopedia
  • ''Al-Mawsooa''

Literature

Alankaa: Encyclopedia of Dictionaries Al-Waraq Ajeeb Sakhr

Historical

  • ''Arabiah''

Religion

Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyya al-KubraNabulsi Muslimedia Free Wiki-based Islamic Encyclopedia in Arabiccopticpedia Coptic Orthodox Encyclopedia الموسوعة القبطية الأرثوذكسية

Social

Istisharaat

Law

JurisPedia

Medical