al-Jazuli, Abu Musa

Abu Musa al-Jazuli (c. 540–607 AH / 1145–1210 CE) was a Maghrebi Berber grammarian and scholar of the Arabic language, renowned for his influential grammatical treatise al-Muqaddima al-Jazuliyya (also known as al-Qanun) al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1.

Lineage and early life

His full name was 'Isa ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Yalallabakht ibn 'Isa ibn Yawmarili al-Jazuli al-Yazdakatani al-Marrakushi al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1. He was of Berber origin, belonging to the Yazdakatn branch of the Jazula (or Gazula) tribe Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. He was born around 540 AH (1145 CE) in Ayda Wagharda al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1.

Travels and education

Al-Jazuli traveled east to perform the pilgrimage and pursued his education in Egypt Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. In Cairo, he studied Arabic grammar intensively under Ibn Barri, read with him Kitab al-Jumal by al-Zajjaji and transcribed Taj al-Lugha wa-Sihah al-Arabiyya by al-Jawhari al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1. He also heard Sahih al-Bukhari from Abu Muhammad ibn 'Ubayd Allah, and studied Maliki jurisprudence and legal theory under the jurist Zafir Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. In Alexandria, he received traditions from scholars including Abu Tahir al-Silafi al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…. During his years in Egypt, al-Jazuli lived in severe poverty, earning his sustenance by leading prayers in rural villages al-Falaka wa al-Maflukun+1.

On his journey back west, he stayed in Algiers, where he studied legal theory under Abu 'Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim while teaching grammar al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…. He also taught in Almeria in al-Andalus and in Bejaia al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1. In Almeria, strained by poverty, he pawned his copy of Ibn al-Sarraj's al-Usul, which bore Ibn Barri's handwriting; when the ascetic Abu al-'Abbas al-Maghribi learned of his plight, he brought it to the attention of the Almohad ruler, who received al-Jazuli with honor and provided for him al-Falaka wa al-Maflukun+1. Al-Jazuli was subsequently appointed as the chief preacher (khatib) of Marrakech and enjoyed the patronage of the Almohad caliphs Abu Ya'qub Yusuf's successors, including al-Nasir al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1.

Teaching and scholarship

Al-Jazuli was regarded as the foremost authority of Arabic grammar in the Islamic West of his era Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. A distinguished circle of students learned from him, most notably Abu Ali al-Shalawbin and Ibn Mu'ti al-Zawawi al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1.

His most celebrated work, al-Muqaddima al-Jazuliyya (also known as al-Qanun), originated from the grammatical inquiries and discussions he had recorded during his study of al-Zajjaji's text under Ibn Barri in Cairo al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1. Due to his scrupulousness, al-Jazuli was known to decline claiming sole authorship of the work, attributing its insights to his teacher and fellow students al-Falaka wa al-Maflukun+1. The text was characterized by extreme concision, logical definitions, and subtle symbols, prompting numerous scholars to author commentaries and illustrative examples for it al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1. He also wrote Sharh Usul Ibn al-Sarraj and an abridgment of Ibn Jinni's commentary on the poetry of al-Mutanabbi, titled Mukhtasar al-Fasr al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+1.

Death

The Almohad caliph al-Nasir dispatched al-Jazuli on a diplomatic mission to reconcile disputing factions among the Sanhaja in Azemmour al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…. He passed away there on the night of Saturday, 13 Sha'ban 607 AH (January 1211 CE) and was buried alongside the ascetic Abu Shu'ayb Ayyub al-Sanhaji al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…. Other historical accounts place his death in Marrakech or report alternate years, including 605, 606, or 610 AH al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi …+2.