The Methodology of al-Damamini in "Tuhfat al-Gharib" and His Disputes with Ibn Hisham (An Analytical Study of Selected Particles: Hamzat al-Nida’, In, Idhan, An)

Abstract

This study examines Badr al-Din al-Damamini's approach in his commentary "Tuhfat al-Gharib fi al-Kalam 'ala Mughni al-Labib," which is a commentary on Ibn Hisham's "Mughni al-Labib," focusing on his grammatical disagreements concerning the four particles: the vocative hamza, 'in, 'idhan, and 'anna. The issue lies in exploring the characteristics of al-Damamini's methodology and his role as an investigator and critic in developing grammatical discussions without bias, alongside analyzing the impact of these disagreements on the understanding of grammatical rules. The necessity of the study stems from the importance of re-reading the grammatical heritage to understand the development of the Arabic language, enhance awareness of its characteristics, and enrich academic research in light of the ongoing grammatical disagreements since the codification era. The study aims to analyze the characteristics of al-Damamini's methodology, such as conciseness, precise linguistic analysis, and adherence to the original structure, and to evaluate his diverse sources, his critiques of Ibn Hisham, and the value of his commentary, focusing on his handling of evidence to support his conclusions. Methodologically, the study relies on the critical descriptive approach to analyze the texts, focusing on the studied book "Tuhfat al-Gharib fi al-Kalam 'ala Mughni al-Labib," and covers aspects such as the characteristics of the methodology, the grammatical school, sources, handling of evidence, and disagreements regarding the selected particles.The study concluded that al-Damamini's methodology is characterized by a set of features that reflect his scientific precision and his balance between conciseness and in-depth analysis. He relied on conciseness to focus on fundamental issues, while ensuring the completion of what needed elaboration, making his commentary focused and useful, although this conciseness might sometimes require referring back to the original text to understand the context, all within a critical investigative approach that avoids sectarian bias. Furthermore, his disagreements with Ibn Hisham, especially concerning the four particles, demonstrated analytical precision through alternative interpretations and Quranic and poetic evidence, which enhanced the understanding of grammatical rules and enriched the grammatical heritage. His critiques of Ibn Hisham, such as criticizing inadequate conciseness or incorrect judgments, showed his critical spirit alongside his respect for the author.