Our Goals
1. Translation, Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations
Knowledge of others remains crucial for connecting with the achievements of various civilizations and cultures, and translation is the primary means to access the latest human intellectual output. Mishkati Foundation aims to support translation from Arabic to foreign languages and vice versa, enriching global human knowledge and library collections.
Key objectives in this area include:
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Reviving the translation movement and publishing classical and contemporary works from Arabic into multiple foreign languages.
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Unifying efforts of authors, writers, and translators to produce joint editions in Arabic and foreign languages.
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Promoting knowledge exchange by revitalizing the “Golden Age” of translation into Arabic and enriching Arabic libraries in literature, science, medicine, arts, philosophy, and more.
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Supporting book production and publishing (both print and digital) and professionally promoting them internationally.
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Publishing a peer-reviewed academic journal, periodically or non-periodically.
The “Tarjam” Initiative (“Translate… Until I See You”) specifically seeks to create a bridge between contemporary Arab writings and the Western world, facilitating mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue. It emphasizes systematic translation from Arabic into widely spoken foreign languages, aiming to correct historical imbalances where Arab works were rarely translated, often in an unplanned and selective manner.
2. Women
Mishkati Foundation focuses on:
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Cultural, scientific, and intellectual support for women.
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Combating violence against women and raising awareness about harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
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Empowering women to participate in political, academic, and economic leadership positions, in alignment with national post-revolution development goals.
3. Background and Rationale for Translation
Historically, understanding other cultures has been driven by both curiosity and the need to interact safely. Unfortunately, Western access to Arab culture often came through intermediaries, leading to misunderstandings. Translation of Arabic works into foreign languages has been weak, sporadic, and unplanned, creating a one-sided flow of knowledge.
The “Tarjam” Initiative addresses this by:
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Encouraging reciprocal translation, from Arabic into foreign languages.
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Ensuring professional translators are carefully selected and that intellectual property rights are respected.
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Transforming culture into a tangible product that strengthens identity, contributes to the national economy, and allows Arab works to reach global audiences.
4. Cultural Impact
Mishkati sees translation as a bridge for intercultural dialogue. True cultural exchange occurs when one reads, understands, and empathizes with the other. In contrast, the Arab world’s translation movement has been historically weak, driven by individual initiatives rather than systemic support.
By promoting translation, Mishkati seeks to:
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Make books, stories, and novels cultural exports.
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Preserve Arabic cultural identity while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
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Revive the historical legacy of translation in the Arab-Islamic world, reminiscent of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, where philosophical and scientific works were translated and disseminated.
5. Challenges in the Arab Translation Landscape
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Translation requires institutional support; individual efforts alone are insufficient.
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Translation must be seen as a cultural industry, not merely linguistic transfer.
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Translators’ limited linguistic, cultural, or intellectual preparation often reduces the quality of translations.
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Selection of works for translation is often driven by market demand rather than cultural significance.
In summary, Mishkati Foundation envisions translation as a strategic tool for cultural dialogue, intellectual exchange, and the global promotion of Arab thought, aligning with its broader goals of education, empowerment, and cultural enrichment.