Alfiyyat Ibn Malik and Selected Issues in Arabic Grammar: A Study and Analysis

Abstract

This research presents an analytical study of Ibn Malik’s Alfiyyah and selected issues in Arabic grammar, focusing on his methodological approach to grammatical evidence and scholarly disagreement. The study highlights the significance of the Alfiyyah in both classical and modern linguistic scholarship. It examines key debates, including the omission of the final “n” in kana, coordination with the noun of inna, the occurrence of definite nouns after la of absolute negation, cancellation of governing verbs in verbs of assumption, omission of their objects, and deletion of the feminine marker when separated by illa. Through comparison with Qur’anic evidence, poetic citations, and the opinions of Basran and Kufan grammarians, the research shows that Ibn Malik sometimes adhered to his stated principles and at other times departed from them, revealing a flexible, critical, and evidence-based approach to Arabic grammatical theory. This highlights his lasting influence on grammatical thought and methodology studies.