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The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) launched the Italian version of ‘The Legacy of Muslim Sicily’ encyclopedia (L’eredità della Sicilia Musulmana), while participating at the Turin International Book Fair 2026 in Italy. The encyclopedic work serves as a comprehensive reference documenting the Arab-Islamic presence on the island of Sicily during the Middle Ages, revealing the depth of its civilizational influence across various fields.
At the Fair, MBRF is presenting both the first and second volumes of the encyclopedia in Italian, following the launch of its English edition last year, while the Arabic edition is set to be launched next. Edited by the late scholar Dr. Salma Khadra Jayyusi and prepared for over eighteen years with contributions from a distinguished group of researchers and academics from Italy, the Arab world, Europe, and the United States, the encyclopedia highlights the features of an integrated civilization which contributed to the development of architecture, science, arts, language, and social systems across the island.
His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, underscored that the launch of the Italian edition of the encyclopedia marks a major milestone, aligning with MBRF’s efforts to enhance global awareness regarding Arab and Islamic civilizational contributions. This further reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) – positioning knowledge as an important investment in the future, with connections between civilizations and cultures representing a strong humanitarian imperative in today’s world.
Dr
Hussein Mahmoud, Dean of the School of Linguistics and Translation at Badr University in Cairo, who moderated the launch ceremony, highlighted that the encyclopedia fills a longstanding knowledge gap surrounding the profound civilizational influence of Muslims in the heart of the Mediterranean. The work reveals how Sicily, particularly the city of Palermo, was far more than a military outpost – it served as a beacon of administrative, scientific, and urban enlightenment, with its profound influence continuing long after the end of the Islamic rule and especially during the Norman era, when its unique heritage was embraced.
Coinciding with the launch of the encyclopedia, MBRF organized a seminar titled ‘Muslim Sicily: Insights into its Civilizational and Intellectual Legacy and its Role in Shaping the Global Knowledge Landscape’ at Dar Al Hikma in the Italian city of Turin, with the participation of distinguished academics and specialized researchers.
The seminar featured His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, along with Dr. Wael Farouk, Director of the Arabic Cultural Institute and Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan; Dr. Luca Patrizi from the University of Turin; and Dr. Giuseppe Mandalà from the University of Milan. The session explored the long-lasting legacy of the Islamic civilization in Sicily and its influence on various global scientific and intellectual movements, while highlighting key aspects of intercultural exchange across the Mediterranean region and Sicily’s role as a unique model of coexistence and civilizational interaction.
H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb stated that Sicily presents one of the oldest records of the Arab-Islamic civilization’s capacity to advance knowledge exchange among nations. His Excellency further highlighted that the Arab-Islamic cultural presence on the island was not merely a passing phase, but rather, one that laid a robust foundation for deep transformations across the intellectual, scientific, and urban domains, establishing Palermo as a thriving Mediterranean capital of administration, science, arts, and cultural exchange through centuries.
Dr
Wael Farouk noted that the Arab influence in Sicily is reflected in much more than just its architectural features or agricultural and irrigation techniques, as it is deeply embedded in everyday life, collective memory, and the local language. He further stated that the encyclopedia provides a rigorous knowledge-based reading into the enduring influence of Arab culture within contemporary Sicilian society.
Dr. Luca Patrizi explained that a significant part of the academic studies on the history of Islamic Sicily was facilitated through the works of the Italian historian Michele Amari, who reintroduced the Arab-Islamic history of the island through a scholarly approach based on original Arabic sources. He also contributed to establishing a more objective approach in this regard, which later shaped European Orientalist studies.
Commenting on this topic, Dr. Giuseppe Mandalà added that the Arab-Norman influence in Sicily represents a unique model of civilizational interaction in the Mediterranean region. He highlighted that Islamic art and architecture played a pivotal role in shaping the island’s visual and social identity, with many aspects of this cultural legacy still requiring further research, documentation, and revival.
The encyclopedia features 30 scholarly chapters covering history, society, politics, literature, language, and translation, along with art, architecture, and the urban landscape, making it a new knowledge reference on Islamic civilization in Europe and a scholarly extension of the book ‘The Legacy of Muslim Spain,’ edited by Jayyusi in 1992.