The early Arabic compilations of knowledge in the Middle Ages included many comprehensive works, and much development of what would become known as the scientific method, historical method, and citation.
The first Arab encyclopedist was Ibn Qutaybah (828–889), who wrote a number of books organizing the knowledge of his day, most importantly 'Uyun Al-Akhbar (Quintessential Reports).
[1] About 960 AD, the Brethren of Purity of Basra were engaged in their Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity, which may be a unique example of a classical Arabic encyclopedia written by a group rather than a solitary scholar.
[1] Other notable works include Abu Bakr al-Razi's encyclopedia of science, the Mutazilite al-Kindi's prolific output of 270 books, and Ibn Sina's The Canon of Medicine, which was a standard reference work for centuries.
Modern Arabic encyclopedias include the online Marefa project.