Kalila and Dimna

Kalila and Dimna was originally written in Sanskrit, probably in Kashmir, some time in the fourth century CE. In Sanskrit it was called the Panchatantra and The earliest known translation, into a non-Indian language, is in Middle Persian Pahlavi, 550 CE by Burzoe. This became the basis for a Syriac translation and a translation into Arabic in 750 CE by Persian scholar Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa. And then again Abu'l-Ma'ali Nasrallah Monshi rendered in prose from arabic in 1143 CE.As mentioned this version is a translation by Thackston from Monshi Persian translation of an 8th-century Arabic rendition by Ibn al-Muqaffa and is a collection of inter-woven fables, many of which deploy metaphors of anthropomorphized animals with human virtues and vices. This translation has 5 discourses.

Not for kids

The description of the roots and history of the book here is not accurate due to the typical lack of knowledge on history of Persia and the Arab invasion about 1400 years ago. After the invasion, as usual the invaders force their ways hence all the Arabic names for all non Arab people and usage of the language which later improved and receved proper attention to gain structure from Persians, who are well known for their science and literature. That is what we see today as "Islamic" while refers to an Arabic religion spread around 1400 years ago after their most important gain: access to thousands of years of history and power of the ancient Persians (Sumeries, Kaldanies, Babelies, and 10s of other ancient cultures coming together as Persians at the time).The Arabs of course burnt as much as they could as all that knowledge was deemed dangerous by their culture and the Islamic way.