از كتابت تا وزارت (بررسي اهميت و نفوذ كاتبان و دبيران در تمدن اسلامي)

Scribe to Vizier

The necessity of administration, registration and recording of property made the Caliph II (Omar) set up Divan (offices) on the basis of suggestion of his Persian frontier guard. Upon formation of such administrative institutions, some literate individuals emerged in state systems of that era that were designated as kateb (writer), Monshi (secretary), and Dabir (clerk). They, due to being aware of overt and covert relations among the pillars of government, found the right niches for themselves. The simplest way to penetrate into government as kateb or Dabir was either transcribing or writing letters or in other cases, with proficiency in the Persian and Arabic languages, they would acquire competence in translation and letter writing. And if they enjoyed talent, they would compose poems, and with perseverance, it was likely that they could compile books and gradually become kingʹs adviser. Thus, these prerequisites were of vital importance to pave the way for a kateb or Dabir to be appointed as vizier since the route to viziership passed through inscription.