Comparative Study of the Common Themes of Wisdom of Ancient Iranians and Islamic Sources

One of the hallmarks of deep thinking and wisdom among ancient Iranians is their use of concise and meaningful expressions, along with valuable advice that reflects their rationalism, religious orientation, and commitment to moral principles. The Arabs' need for and fascination with Iranian culture and civilization, along with their eagerness to learn about the ancient Iranians, led to their familiarity with the wisdom and insights of this people. This was achieved through the translation of Pahlavi texts and cultural intermingling, resulting in the incorporation of these wise sayings into Arab culture. This research serves as a supplement to the book "Wisdom of Ancient Iranians in Arabic Sources, which presents over a thousand themes of Iranian wisdom found in Arabic literature. Since some sources were unavailable or omitted in the aforementioned research, he introduced approximately 250 new topics and aligned them with the teachings of Nahj al-Balagha, Gharral al-Hakm, and various prophetic hadiths. This alignment was made in terms of theological structure, and we have demonstrated a cohesive theme. In addition to presenting new Iranian insights, we have sought to explore various possibilities to justify and interpret these similarities using a causal-comparative method. The comparison results based on these possibilities reveal the intellectual and cultural affinity of ancient Iranians with various Islamic themes, influenced by experience, rationality, and religious teachings. However, the potential for forgery and false attribution, driven by religious and tribal prejudices, cannot be dismissed. 
Introduction:
Arabic culture and literature have historically been influenced by Iranian culture and civilization in various ways. Before the advent of Islam, this influence permeated Arabic culture and literature due to several factors, including the connections between pre-Islamic poets and the Sassanid court, the political and military presence of Iranians in Yemen, the settlement of Iranian families and border guards in the Hira region, and trade relations, among others. After the advent of Islam, various factors significantly influenced Iranian contributions to Arabic culture and literature. These included the large number of Iranian captives and slave girls who later became the mothers of the Arab nation, the Arabic writings of Iranian thinkers such as Ibn-e Muqaffa, Ibn-e Qutaybah Dinwari, Abu Ali Sina, and Biruni, as well as the Arabic poetry of Iranian poets like Bashar, Abu Nuwas, and Abul-Fath Basti. Additionally, the translation of Pahlavi texts into Arabic, the establishment of the Abbasid state by Iranians, and their political and cultural influence in the courts of the Abbasid caliphs played crucial roles. The profound fascination and enthusiasm of Arabs for Iranian culture, along with the significant contributions of Iranian scholars in the development of literary and Islamic sciences—such as Sibuyeh, Zamakhshari, and Thalibi—further facilitated this cultural exchange.
Factors such as racial mixing and immigration have also contributed to this dynamic interplay. Additionally, literary works and themes of wisdom from ancient Iranian culture, including the Shahnameh, Javdan Khard, Adab al-Saghir, Adab al-Kabir, Menui Khard, and Pahlavi texts, illustrate that rationalism, religious orientation, justice, and adherence to ethics are prominent characteristics of this people and their Islamic culture. This alignment and shared cultural elements led the Arab people to embrace Iranian culture, which was reflected in Arab literary works and ultimately influenced the interpretations of the Quran and Nahj al-Balagha.
According to this research, the wisdom of ancient Iranians as recorded in Arabic sources is categorized into eight content areas: Political Affairs which include includes topics such as the responsibilities of the king, divine law, justice, the importance of seeking counsel, the concepts of pardon and forgiveness, and the necessity of overseeing the work of officials. Scientific Matters that are related to encompassing discussions on the significance of science and knowledge, the value of continuous learning, and the praise of reason and wisdom, etc. Moral considerations encompass avoiding undesirable traits such as selfishness, stinginess, self-righteousness, dishonesty, and gossip, while promoting virtues like truthfulness, patience, and contentment. Religious considerations address the significance of faith, the condemnation of irreligion, the importance of adhering to God's commandments, and the avoidance of sin. Additionally, they highlight the transient nature of this world in comparison to the eternal value of the Hereafter. Philosophical matters encompass topics such as the injustice and degradation present in the world, the coexistence of worldly blessings with suffering and hardship, the adversarial relationship between time and humanity, and the concepts of fate and destiny. Economic affairs include discussions on the value of property and wealth, the condemnation of hoarding, the significance of hard work and effort, the denunciation of unemployment and laziness, and the prohibition of trade for the king. Social affairs encompass topics such as the rituals of friendship, the significance of marriage and family formation, and the advantages of marrying relatives. They also involve managing family matters, among other related issues. Military affairs cover subjects such as military reforms, addressing the current state of the armed forces, focusing on military tactics, and ensuring security, among other concerns.
One of the most valuable areas of research is to uncover the origins and sources of these wisdoms. Therefore, the book "Wisdoms of Ancient Iranians in Arabic Sources" (2015) presents Iranian wisdom as documented in Arabic literature.
This book not only introduces previous research in the field of Iranology but also analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of these works. In a comprehensive introduction, it outlines the historical and political contexts that shaped the influence of ancient Iranian culture and civilization on pre-Islamic Arab literary culture. Furthermore, it explores how Iranian culture and civilization impacted the Islamic period and identifies the areas of alignment and commonality between Iranian and Islamic ideas. The text introduces Iranian wisdom as presented in Arabic sources, organized chronologically. The research highlights over 1,000 themes of Iranian wisdom found in 61 Arabic sources authored by 48 individuals. This book includes quotations from 41 notable Iranian figures, showcasing their insightful contributions. In addition to the 41 figures mentioned, 172 pieces of wisdom from Iranians (Persians) and 22 pieces from clerics have also been cited in Arabic sources. The total number of Iranian wisdoms referenced in the Arabic sources of this study is 1,400, of which 432 are repetitive.
Method:
In the present study, we employ the historical research method to gather Iranian wisdom from Arabic sources. Subsequently, we utilize the causal-comparative method to compare these findings with the prevailing themes in Islamic sources. Finally, we explore various possibilities regarding the causes of these similarities.
Results and Discussion:
Among the 249 Iranian proverbs examined in this study, 113 share a common theme with Islamic sources. Of these 113 proverbs, 96 were documented prior to Islamic authors, while 17 were recorded afterward in Arabic sources. The presence of this Iranian evidence, along with hadiths and narrations, indicates both the widespread influence of Iranian culture on Arabic literature and the intellectual affinity of ancient Iranians with pure Islamic ideas. This connection is exemplified in the refined teachings of Islam and the words of its esteemed scholars. Of course, choosing statements that align with Islamic culture while eliminating superstitions and perspectives that contradict Islamic principles is crucial for the emergence of these commonalities. Additionally, the significant influence of the prevailing religious and political atmosphere on the selection of themes that resonate with and support Islamic culture should not be overlooked.
Conclusion:
Most (85%) of the common wisdom was derived from Iranians prior to the influence of Islamic and Arabic sources. Due to religious fanaticism and the acceptance of religious leaders, these narratives took on the characteristics of narration and hadith, becoming integral to Islamic and Arabic culture. Some extremists within the Shi'a movement and Iranian Islamic historians have attributed 15% of Islamic and Arabic themes to Iranian sages. The similarity of some of these themes may stem from their connection to the origins of experience, rationality, and religious teachings. The dominant themes present in early Islamic sources possess greater authenticity due to their historical precedence. However, this authenticity lacks a solid foundation in the case of later sources.