al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw

al-Hudud fi 'Ilm al-Nahw (The Definitions in the Science of Grammar) is a concise grammatical treatise by the Maliki grammarian Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Shihab al-Abbadhi (d. 860 AH / 1456 CE; another report gives 861 AH) al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1. The work is designed as an introductory handbook defining core terms and technical concepts in Arabic syntax and morphology al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1.

Purpose and Methodology

Al-Abbadhi composed the treatise specifically for beginners seeking a distilled orientation in grammar Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1. In his opening remarks, he states: "This is a fine brief note on grammar that I compiled for whoever desires it" Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.

In accordance with this aim of brevity, the author focuses strictly on succinct explanations and definitions (hudud) of grammatical concepts alongside a small number of morphological terms al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1. He intentionally omits textual citations and poetic evidentiary verses (shawahid), detailed grammatical arguments, and doctrinal disputes among rival grammatical schools al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1.

Contents

The text begins with the linguistic meaning of nahw as "aim" or "intent" (al-qasd), followed by technical definitions of foundational terms, including:

• Syntax (nahw): The science by which the states of the endings of Arabic words are known, in isolation and composition Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.
• Speech (kalam), Utterance (lafz), Composition (tarkib), and Semantic benefit (ifadah) Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.
• Word (kalimah) and Word-group (kalim), followed by basic illustrative examples Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.
• The divisions of speech into noun (ism), verb (fi'l), and particle (harf), along with sub-classifications such as explicit (zahir), pronominal (mudmar), and vague (mubham) nouns, and the division of verbs into past, present, and imperative Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.

Reception and Commentary

The historian and hadith scholar Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi commended al-Abbadhi's definitions as beneficial (hudud nafi'ah) and noted his pedagogical ability, stating that after Shaykh Ibn Khidr, none rivaled al-Abbadhi in guiding beginners in the craft of grammar al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1.

The work received a commentary by the Maliki grammarian Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim al-Maliki (d. 920 AH / 1514 CE), entitled Sharh Kitab al-Hudud lil-Abbadhi al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1.

Title Variations and Manuscripts

The text appears in manuscript copies and bio-bibliographical literature under slightly varying titles, including Kitab al-Hudud fi 'Ilm al-Nahw and Hudud al-Nahw al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1. It was edited by Najat Hasan Abdullah Nuli based on three manuscripts preserved at King Saud University, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University (transcribed from the Zahiriyya collection), and Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya (a copy transcribed in 1094 AH by Abd al-Al ibn Mansur al-Buhayri al-Azhari) al-Hudud fi Ilm al-Nahw+1. The critical edition was published in the journal of the Islamic University of Madinah Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.