Which book should I start with for learning Nahw?
Assalamu Alaikum
I recently completed studying this book on Sarf with my shaykh. I want to know which book I should begin with for the study of Nahw. Should I begin with Ajrumiyyah (with the Sharh of Ibn Uthaymeen) or with Al-Hedayatu Fil Nahw? Which book is easier to learn for a beginner in Nahw?
al-Ajurrumiyyah is not particularly useful without a sharh. I have studied both and would personally recommend Hidayatun Nahw (the Iranian print/modified version is nicer than the desi print), as both texts are relatively easy to read, but the latter is more detailed/comprehensive.
Shukran Akhi.
What do you think of the Sharh by Ibn Uthaymeen? Regardless of his status as a Wahhabi, is his Sharh any good?
I have never read ibn Uthaymin's Sharh, so I can't comment on it. The more famous commentaries are Muhiuddin Abdul Hamid's Tuhfatus Sanniyyah, and Sharh al-Kafrawi.
As far as sects are concerned, your shiah hawzas often use works written by sunnis when it comes to sarf, nahw, balagah, and other not-necessarily-religious sciences.
Originally Posted by godilali
Ya I am familiar with their use of Sunni written grammar books. Ilm is not limited to any one school of thought. Isnt Tuhfatus Sanniyyah only on the Muqadimah of Ajrumiyyah ? Or does it cover Nahw pretty well?
Salam...
Ibn Uthaymin's sharh is basic. Tuhfat al-saniyya is a good basic one. Depending on your level and previous exposure to arabic, either of these two books are OK.
Other shuruh include the ones by Makudi (too short), Dahlan (short), Khalid-al-Azhari (good), Ashmawi (v. good, solid), Kafrawi (too long), al-Khatib-al-Shirbini (solid), Abdullah al-Gumari (toooooo long, advanced)... all on Ajrumiyya.
Should you have previous exposure to Arabic Grammar, you might want to consider doing Ashmawi on ajurrimiyya (45 pages, old egyptian printing style). Not too long like Kafrawi, not too short like Makudi and Dahlan, and not basic like Tuhfat and Ibn Uthaymin. you will need a teacher to explain it to you. Which area of the world are you located?
Hidaya al-Nahw, being based on the Kafiyah of Ibn-al-Hajib, is likely a higher level text than Ajrumiyya. Suffice it to say that Ibn al-Hajib's Kafiyah is known as the Fiqh text of Nahw.
Ajrumiyya however has in mind non-Arabic speaking students. The author (of Berber origin) wrote it for students of all kind including Berber students in West North Africa
You should also consult with the shaykh you completed Sarf with. Being more familiar with your level, he would be more qualified to suggest what books would be of more benefit in your case.
After doing Ashmawi (or any similar text), you can either do Hidayat al-Nahw, or the Mutammimah, or jump directly to Qatr al-Nada by Ibn Hisham, all depending on what your teacher recommends.
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Shukran AKhi for your response
I live in the United States and No i dont speak arabic. I speak Farsi. I was wondering if Ibn Uthaymeen's Sharh is more basic than Tuhfat us Saniyyah because Ibn Uthaymeens Sharh is like almost 500 pages and Tuhfat us Saniyyah is only like 200 pages or so. Does Ibn Uthaymeen's Sharh cover Nahw more deeply?
something I found on deenport:
"
Salams Asma,
I think that there could be some benefit in studying a text like the Ajarrumiyya, even as a beginner (although with a teacher of course!) because it will give you a clear idea of how Arabic is structured, although I understand what Ma'ida is saying too! Obviously, the language only really comes to life through texts, but knowing something about the structure beforehand is like having the picture on the box of a jigsaw puzzle in front of you before attempting the puzzle. It sounds like you are not an absolute beginner, and I think with a suitable teacher (if that's at all possible), you could make very good strides with a text like that.
That was my experience anyway (and the Ajarrumiyya is much more fun than Haywood and Nahmed because it has a nice rhythm to it, and it has a long history of opening up the language to people.)
Having said that, I know how hard it is to learn and maintain Arabic when not doing it through an institution, and without a support structure. And the Ajarrumiyya is no good for having a conversation in Arabic! So the approach you take depends on your needs
Fozia Bora*
13.05.2007 IPinSight
Asalamu alaykum,
I've studied with teachers from West and East Africa, Yemen and the Gulf. Hands down it seems that all of them prefer al-Ajrumiyyah as a good basic text to start from. Then you have its explanation al-tahfatu al-siniyah by Sh. Muhammad Muhyu Din Abdu al-Hamid. I was blessed to study it with one of his students and there are number of benefits that surround the text. Another important thing that many over look is that Ibn al-Ajrum was a righteous person. There is a story that when he finished the text he ask Allah to give him a sign that it was done only for the sake of Allah. Then he placed the text in a river and the water did not harm it. Thus, this book, inshallah, is a proof of the karamat of the auliyah. Thus, when you read its words you are reading the words, inshallah wa la nuzaki 'ala Allahi ahadan, a salih. When I studied with my teacher from Senegal we followed the following method:
1. Read and memorize the text
2. Read and memorize as much of its explanation as possible
3. Read the explanation back to the sheikh making 'Irab of the texts as we went along
Next we took binau al-Af'al. Then we moved to the Lamiyah in sarf. Then I moved but next was the alifyah.
The Azhari model is as follows:
1. Elementary school: Al-Ajrumiyah and its explanation
2. Middle school: Muqadimatul al-Azhariyah and the Qatra al-nada of Ibn Hisham
3. High School The Alifyah with Sharh ibn Aqeel.
One thing that many of my teachers told me is that the grammar is only one part of the process. For that reason one is encouraged to read a lot and study adab wa nusus. Finally, Ibn Athir (ra) mentions three steps towards attaining fasaha:
1. Reading Qur'an
2. Reading Hadith
3. Reading Poetry
Ibn Khalidun adds another step that is, perhaps, the most important:
"Practice."
may Allah grant us fashaha in our speach and ikhlas in our hearts.
Br. Suhaib"
Since you speak farsi, I strongly recommend purchasing this version of hidayatun nahw, since the hashiyah is in farsi:
http://www.al-rashad.com/Arabic-Book...n-Nahw-Arabic/
Salam
I appreciate all the responses . Jazakallahu Khayr inshallah. Are you sure that the hashiyah is in Farsi akhi? cuz from the cover, it looks Urdu to me ! Lol
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