Grammatical explanations according to Al-Janqi

Abstract

This research presents an analytical and investigative study of the book "Kashif al-Niqab 'an Qawa'id al-I'rab" (The Revealer of the Rules of Grammar) by Sa'id ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Janki, Rumi, Uthmani al-Hanafi, Sufi, and grammatical morphologist (d. 1207 AH). He was one of the Ottoman scholars who distinguished himself by his special interest in the Arabic grammatical heritage, particularly the commentaries on the books of Ibn Hisham al-Ansari. This research was taken from a master's thesis in Arabic grammar and represents a contribution to reviving a grammatical heritage that has been marginalized, despite its importance in the history of later grammatical commentaries.

The research is divided into two main sections. The first section is devoted to the introductory aspect and includes two requirements: The first covers an introduction to Ibn Hisham al-Ansari, the author of "Qawa'id al-I'rab," highlighting his position among grammarians, his classification method, the characteristics of his style, and his impact on grammatical studies. The second section introduces al-Janki, highlighting his lineage, homeland, religious affiliation, academic background, and participation in the intellectual landscape of the Ottoman Empire. It also highlights his position among later commentators on grammar.

The second section examines al-Janki's method in his commentary, in terms of the nature of the grammatical justifications he employed, the level of interaction with the original text, his use of Qur'anic and grammatical evidence, and his analysis of ambiguous expressions in his book "Qawa'id al-I'rab." This section demonstrates al-Janki's reliance on traditional grammatical methods, with a clear effort to organize ideas, explain terminology, and highlight structural causes. His book serves as an important link between earlier commentaries on grammar and commentaries of the Ottoman era, revealing clear efforts to simplify the grammatical material without compromising its scholarly content. The research concluded with a comprehensive list of sources and references that the researcher relied on, in addition to a recommendation on the importance of paying attention to the explanations of late Ottoman grammar, as they contain interpretive additions and detailed explanations that help in understanding the original grammatical texts and the history of their reception.