The very first novel!
- By: Qwaider
- On:Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:31:40 PM
- In:Thoughts
- Viewed: (7200) times
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Who doesn't love novels? Yeah, I know someone told one of the poor wives on Qwaider Planet that her novels are not "books" but that can't be farther from the truth.
I tried to dig in my history books to find the very first novel in history, it was such a wonderful journey in the very old and most primitive of world novels. Which were one step above folkloric myth tales.
Passing by "The tale of Genji" with her unknown author, and guess what, two Arabic novels stand out at the very first set of novels. One by Ibin Tufail and the second is by Ibin Nafis. (Yes the same guy who properly discovered the circulatory system). "Hay ibin Yaqthan" and "Fadel Ibin Nateq". A little more search and I discovered that these very books are known in the west as, Philosophus Autodidactus and Theologus Autodidactus respectively (autodidactus means, self taught)
And guess what I found!
Turns out, Theologus Autodidactus is the first EVER science fiction novel! Isn't it a shame that a Sci-Fi fan like me didn't know this?! Wow, the very first novel, very first Science fiction novel, the first theological novel. wow!
Guess what ORGINAL ideas were in those novels!
Consider the story of Tarzan? Yes, it's suggested that it was first written by Ibin Nafis. [Known as Feral child]
Consider the story of Robinson Crusoe, Cast Away ...etc? Yep, that genre is also suggested to have been kindled by Ibin Nafis. [Known as Desert Island]
Consider all the Apocalyptic stories about doomsday? Yep, those too!
When I read more into the philosophy of Ibin Nafis, I was astonished to find ideas where he defined Aristotle (and more recently the lunatic called Zaghloul Najjar). Remember Ibin Nafis was a doctor, a philosopher, author among other things. Guess what he said (Ibn al-Nafis rejected this idea and instead argued that the soul "is related to the entirety and not to one or a few organs." ) That's part one. The Soul is NOT part of any organ. Further more he disproved that "psychic faculties" are cognition, sensation, imagination, and "animal locomotion" come from the heart (Hear that Zaghloul! ONE THOUSAND YEARS AGO). He also concluded that these actually come from the brain!
You know, the more I read history the more I feel sorry for this nation!
Here we have an example of a man who disproved Aristotle, defied Ibin Sina (Avicenna), created the first science fiction novels. Who based all his life work on philosophy and LOGIC! God forbid you mention this word these days!
So, my next read is going to be back in time, to read, Hay ibin Yaqthan, and Fadel ibin Natiq
I think, if I could go back in time, to any time in history. The life of Ibin Nafis would be one of my favorite destinations!
Fadi: الله يرحمها و يجعل مثواها بعليين و يجمعك معها بالجنة بعد عمر طويل
بلوجر بالعربي: looks very good
Noura: Different home, but same longing and nostalgia .. it seems we are chasing a mirage , Beirut of my dreams does not exist nor the people i miss .. i don't know if my gains were worth the losses ? I 
price waves repeat: The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken 
Sara: You can say that again!God Bless🕊
ياسمين حميد: كما هي طبيعتنا نحن العرب، عند الانتقال بين منصة وأخرى لا نحتفظ بالأولى بل نتركها ونهجرها. الأمور عندنا خاضعة ل
Qwaider: These possessions are meaningless as you said, but it's still painful to let go :( May Allah grant you all you wish for and unite you with your loved ones
Nicolas: The rapid increase in intelligence within this generation is responsible for completely unforeseen phenomena that academicians are not prepared for.Some of these classic TV shows remained 
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Fadi:الله يرحمها و يجعل مثواها بعليين و يجمعك معها بالجنة بعد عم%
بلوجر بالعربي:looks very good
Noura:Different home, but same longing and nostalgia .. it seems we are chasing a mirage , Beirut of my dreams does not exist nor the people i miss .. i don't know if my gains were worth the losses ? I
price waves repeat:The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken
Sara:You can say that again!God Bless🕊
ياسمين حميد:كما هي طبيعتنا نحن العرب، عند الانتقال بين منصة وأخرى لا نحت%
Qwaider:These possessions are meaningless as you said, but it's still painful to let go :( May Allah grant you all you wish for and unite you with your loved ones
Session=
Memories....
New books added to the must read list!!
but hey I am already ahead of u , I read Hay Ibn Yaqthan :P but I didn't know it was one of the first novels and there was nothing about it in the introduction!!!
they argued that both Tarazan and Robinson Crusoe were based on Hay ,they didn't mention Ibn Al Nafis at all!
Sadly I truly suck at reading Arabic, so I will be looking for the English versions of these
and all this time they have been teaching us that novels are an european invention and that the only form of literature the arabs knew was poetry?
sad, sad.
I did read Hayy bin Yaqthaan as a child (It has been rewritten in the 20th century for children, but I don't remember by whom), and then again in full about 6 or 7 years ago. But somehow it never hit me that it is a NOVEL, and the very first one too.
Good to hear there is one by Ibn Al-Nafees as well! Do you know where I could find it?