The Grammatical Disputes between Sibawayh and Al-Akhfash through the Book Sharḥ al-Muqaddimah al-Muḥtasabah by Ibn Babshadh (d. 469 AH)

Abstract

This research is based on extracting the controversial grammatical issues between Sibawayh and Al-Akhfash through the book “Sharḥ al-Muqaddimah al-Muḥtasabah” by Ibn Babshadh, and studying them analytically by linking classical grammar books—especially those of early scholars—with works on Qur’anic parsing and meanings.

The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method in presenting its material. It examines the disagreements between Sibawayh and Al-Akhfash in Sharḥ al-Muqaddimah al-Muḥtasabah by identifying specific grammatical issues, presenting the different opinions, analyzing the viewpoints, and then selecting the most appropriate and accurate opinion at the end of each issue in a way that aligns with the nature and spirit of the Arabic language.

This research consists of an introduction, six issues, and a conclusion. The introduction defines the topic, clarifies its material, objectives, methodology, and research plan.

The issues are presented as follows:

Issue One: The grammatical inflection of the dual form.

Issue Two: The status of the second-person feminine suffix (yā’ al-mukhāṭabah) as either a noun or a particle.

Issue Three: The nominative case of a noun following the adverbial particle idhā.

Issue Four: Kayfa between nominal and adverbial usage.

Issue Five: The grammatical analysis of the expression “ammā annahu qā’imun.”

Issue Six: The precedence of the circumstantial accusative (ḥāl) over its abstract governing element.

The conclusion includes the most important findings reached through this study.

The research is supplemented with an index of the most important references and sources upon which it relied.