The Arabization of Dīwāns During the Reign of ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwān

Faruk Korkmaz

Makale detayları

The Arabization of Dīwāns During the Reign of ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwān

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Dergiabant Vol.13 Issue 1, pp.121-139

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346892

pISSN:

2148-0494

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This article examines the Arabization of dīwāns initiated by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik b. Marwān as part of his policy to ensure the unity of the state. The primary factor that enabled Islam to establish a systematic state order and institutionalize its governance was the integration of the dīwān system, which formed the foundation of administrative organization, into Islamic civilization. After eliminating political and military disturbances and reinforcing the authority of the state, Caliph Abd al-Malik resolved to organize administrative institutions in a systematic manner and in accordance with the structure of Islam. To achieve this goal, he restructured and institutionalized the dīwān system. According to prevalent views, the Arabization movement was first implemented in the dīwān al-kharādj. In the dīwāns established in the newly conquered territories, pre-conquest practices were initially preserved, and even local languages continued to be used as the medium of written communication. For example, Persian was used in Iraq and Iran, Greek in Syria, and both Greek and Coptic in Egypt. With the translation of the dīwāns into Arabic, the sole language used in the official correspondence of the state became Arabic. This study seeks to address various questions regarding the historical context and motivations behind the Arabization of dīwāns, whether this process contributed to Islamic civilization, the identities of the scribes who carried out the translations, whether Arabization had an ideological dimension, and the standards according to which the dīwāns were translated into Arabic.

 This article examines the Arabization of dīwāns initiated by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik b. Marwān as part of his policy to ensure the unity of the state. The primary factor that enabled Islam to establish a systematic state order and institutionalize its governance was the integration of the dīwān system, which formed the foundation of administrative organization, into Islamic civilization. After eliminating political and military disturbances and reinforcing the authority of the state, Caliph Abd al-Malik resolved to organize administrative institutions in a systematic manner and in accordance with the structure of Islam. To achieve this goal, he restructured and institutionalized the dīwān system. According to prevalent views, the Arabization movement was first implemented in the dīwān al-kharādj. In the dīwāns established in the newly conquered territories, pre-conquest practices were initially preserved, and even local languages continued to be used as the medium of written communication. For example, Persian was used in Iraq and Iran, Greek in Syria, and both Greek and Coptic in Egypt. With the translation of the dīwāns into Arabic, the sole language used in the official correspondence of the state became Arabic. This study seeks to address various questions regarding the historical context and motivations behind the Arabization of dīwāns, whether this process contributed to Islamic civilization, the identities of the scribes who carried out the translations, whether Arabization had an ideological dimension, and the standards according to which the dīwāns were translated into Arabic.

 This article examines the Arabization of dīwāns initiated by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik b. Marwān as part of his policy to ensure the unity of the state. The primary factor that enabled Islam to establish a systematic state order and institutionalize its governance was the integration of the dīwān system, which formed the foundation of administrative organization, into Islamic civilization. After eliminating political and military disturbances and reinforcing the authority of the state, Caliph Abd al-Malik resolved to organize administrative institutions in a systematic manner and in accordance with the structure of Islam. To achieve this goal, he restructured and institutionalized the dīwān system. According to prevalent views, the Arabization movement was first implemented in the dīwān al-kharādj. In the dīwāns established in the newly conquered territories, pre-conquest practices were initially preserved, and even local languages continued to be used as the medium of written communication. For example, Persian was used in Iraq and Iran, Greek in Syria, and both Greek and Coptic in Egypt. With the translation of the dīwāns into Arabic, the sole language used in the official correspondence of the state became Arabic. This study seeks to address various questions regarding the historical context and motivations behind the Arabization of dīwāns, whether this process contributed to Islamic civilization, the identities of the scribes who carried out the translations, whether Arabization had an ideological dimension, and the standards according to which the dīwāns were translated into Arabic.

 Bu makalede Emevî Halifesi Abdülmelik b. Mervânın 65-86685-705 başlattığı ve devletin birliğini sağlama politikasının bir parçası olan divanların Arapçalaştırılması hareketi incelenecektir. İslâmın devlet nizamına kavuşup kurumsallaşmasını sağlayan etkenlerden biri de idarî sistemin temellerinden birisini oluşturan divan teşkilatının İslâm medeniyetine dahil edilmesidir. Halife Abdülmelik, siyasî ve askerî sahalardaki karışıklıkları ortadan kaldırıp devletin hâkimiyetini yeniden güçlendirdikten sonra idarî kurumları sistemli ve devletin resmî diline uygun hale getirmeye karar vermiştir. Bu hedefle divan sistemini yeniden yapılandırmış ve kurumsal hale getirmiştir. Divan kayıtlarının Arapçaya çevrilmesi ise bunun önemli bir parçasıdır. Arapçalaştırma hareketi, yaygın görüşe göre Dîvânül-harâclarda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Arapçalaştırma öncesinde fethedilen bölgelerdeki divanlarda fetihten önceki işleyiş devam ettirilmiş hatta yazım dilinde bile mahallî diller kullanılmıştır. Irak ve İranda Farsça, Şamda Rumca, Mısırda Yunanca ve Kıptîce tercih edilmiştir. Divanların Arapçaya çevrilmesiyle devletin resmî yazışmalarında kullanılan tek dil Arapça olmuştur. Bu araştırmada divanların Arapçalaştırılmasının tarihî bağlamı ve neden gerçekleştirildiği, uygulamanın İslâm medeniyetine katkılarının olup olmadığı, tercümeyi gerçekleştiren kâtiplerin kimler olduğu, Arapçalaştırmanın ideolojik bir boyutunun olup olmadığı, divanların hangi standartlara göre Arapçaya aktarıldığı gibi sorulara cevap aranacaktır.

Makale detayları

The Arabization of Dīwāns During the Reign of ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwān

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Dergiabant Vol.13 Issue 1, pp.121-139

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346892

pISSN:

2148-0494

Islamic History

Umayyad

‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwān

Dīwān

Arabization

Dīwān al-kharādjİslâm Tarihi

Emevîler

Abdülmelik b. Mervân

Divan

Arapçalaştırma

Dîvânü’l-harâc

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı: Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University

Ana Başlıklar: İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | İslam Tarihi

Dergi: Dergiabant Vol.13 Issue 1, pp.121-139

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 5/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001346892

pISSN: 2148-0494

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Dergiabant Vol.13 Issue 1, pp.121-139

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346892

pISSN:

2148-0494