ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Pioneer Culture to the Rescue of Mankind - An Introduction to Islamic Culture Definitions of Culture in Well-known Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias It is obviously impossible to compile and study all of the current definitions of culture in one single volume. However, we can refer to distinguished dictionaries and encyclopaedias and explore the main ones given by established scholars around the world.

Culture Described in Persian Reference Books “Farhang (derived from farhandge), (the Farsi equivalent for culture) refers to knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, accountability, a Persian lexicon, Keikavus’ mother, and a branch put in soil to be planted elsewhere.

It also means a water drain.”[^1] Hossein ibn Fakhruddin Hassan Anjui Shirazi believes “farhang to have six various meanings: First *, knowledge* فلك ر قدر تو اندوخته بسى رفعت خرد ز راى تو اموخته بسى فرهنك “Your value has greatly elevated the heavens, and intelligence has gained much culture from your ideas.” (Kamal Ismail) Second *, manner* مرد را ور هذر فرهنجد توسنى از سرش بياهنجد “If man acquires culture alongside his art, will be able to manage any severity” (Sanai) Third *, intelligence* نه دانش باشد انكس رانه فرهنك كه وقت اشتى بيش اورد جنك “One who raises war at peace-time, knows no knowledge or culture.” (Nezami) Fourth *, a book containing Persian words and their meanings* نوشتست بخت از بى كام خويش بر اوراق فرهنك او نام خويش “Fate has written his name in its own desire on the pages of culture.” (Souzani) Fifth, it is Keikavus’ mother's name Sixth, a branch buried in soil so that it would become a shrub and be planted somewhere else.” [^2] Explaining the entry “farhang” in his Persian encyclopaedia, the late Dehkhoda has cited many verses by distinguished literary figures in Persian in order to further illustrate the vast range and depth of culture in Persian literature.

The Persian Encyclopaedia reads: “Culture shows a peoples' life style and traditions in anthropology. Its English equivalent was first used academically in the nineteenth century by Sir E.B. Tyler. The concept of culture has proved so useful that it is now also used in other fields of sociology, literature and biology. Culture has been the distinctive point between mankind and animals ever since the rising of man.

The traditions, ideas and conditions of a group are passed on through its generations mostly by education, not genetically.