al-Durr al-Masun fi Ulum al-Kitab al-Maknun
- Author died
- 756 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Qalam
al-Durr al-Masun fi Ulum al-Kitab al-Maknun (The Preserved Pearl Regarding the Sciences of the Hidden Book) is an encyclopedic work on Quranic syntax, morphology, lexicography, and rhetoric written by al-Samin al-Halabi (d. 756 AH / 1355 CE) .
Composition and Scope
Al-Samin al-Halabi completed the work in mid-Rajab 734 AH . In his introduction, he noted that beyond proper pronunciation and recitation, five sciences are indispensable for understanding the Quran: syntax (iʿrāb), morphology (taṣrīf), lexicography (lughah), semantics (ʿilm al-maʿānī), and rhetoric (ʿilm al-bayān) . He composed the treatise to combine these disciplines in a unified study of the Quranic text, directing and explaining both frequent (mutawātir) and anomalous (shādhdh) variant readings (qirāʾāt) .
Method and Sources
The book drew heavily on al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ by al-Samin's teacher Abu Hayyan al-Andalusi, as well as al-Kashshāf by al-Zamakhshari, al-Muḥarrar al-Wajīz by Ibn Atiyya, and the writings of Abu al-Baqa' al-Ukbari . Al-Samin wrote the text during Abu Hayyan's lifetime, actively engaging in critical evaluation of earlier commentators . He frequently defended al-Zamakhshari against Abu Hayyan's critiques while also answering objections raised against Ibn Atiyya and Abu al-Baqa' .
His methodology focused on precise attribution of opinions, systematic grammatical rule-formulation (taʾṣīl wa-taqʿīd), adherence to apparent sentence structure (al-iltizām bi-l-ẓāhir), and extensive citation of rare poetic evidence (shawāhid) . He avoided detailing theological and legal controversies .
Reception and Related Works
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti described the book in al-Itqan as the most magnificent work compiled on Quranic parsing, despite containing lengthiness and filler . Katip Celebi noted that while al-Suyuti believed al-Safaqasi abridged al-Samin's work, al-Safaqasi had actually abridged Abu Hayyan's commentary directly, whereas al-Samin condensed material from Abu Hayyan while adding his own debates .
The disputes between Abu Hayyan and al-Samin prompted later studies. Badr al-Din al-Ghazzi authored al-Durr al-Thamin fi al-Munaqasha bayn Abi Hayyan wa-l-Samin, examining ten contentious issues and favoring Abu Hayyan; the judge Ali ibn Amrullah subsequently wrote a response vindicating al-Samin's objections, which Damascus scholars favored over al-Ghazzi's treatise .
Abd al-Rahman ibn Umar al-Tawati produced an abridgment of al-Durr al-Masun, retaining syntax, morphology, and lexicography while omitting rhetorical figures and restricting the variant readings to the recitation of Nafi' through Warsh and Qalun . Early bibliographers described the original work as spanning three or four large volumes . A complete edition was edited by Ahmad Muhammad al-Kharrat and published by Dar al-Qalam in Damascus in 1406 AH / 1986 CE .
Answer updated