Overview of Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abdullah (Ibn Ajrum)
Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Dawood Al-Sanhaji, widely known as Ibn Ajrum, translates from Berber as “the pious, ascetic poor man.” Ibn Ajrum was not only a revered scholar but also a distinguished expert in grammar. He is best known for his seminal work “Al-Muqaddimah Al-Ajrumiyyah fi Mabadī’ ‘Ilm Al-‘Arabiyyah,” which is considered one of the foundational texts in Arabic grammar.
Birth and Education of Ibn Ajrum
Born in the city of Fes in 672 AH (1274 AD) in the Maghreb, Ibn Ajrum received his early education in Fes, where he earned the title of imam in grammar. He was notably recognized for his good character and virtuous nature, impacting many through his knowledge. It appears he adhered to the Kufi school of grammar and was known for his piety and moral integrity. His contemporaries described him as a knowledgeable fiqh scholar, a grammarian, and an expert in the recitation and proper reading of the Quran.
Ibn Ajrum is regarded as one of the most important scholars in the Maghreb region, having lived through the 13th and 14th centuries. His expertise spanned various fields, including Islamic jurisprudence, Quranic readings and their recitation, as well as linguistics. He was known by the name Abu Abdullah and referred to as Al-Sanhaji, indicating his association with the Sanhaja, a large Amazigh tribe, hence the designation Ibn Ajrum.
Life of Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abdullah (Ibn Ajrum)
After spending a significant period in Fes, Abu Abdullah Muhammad set out for Mecca to perform Hajj. Along the way, he passed through Cairo, where he resided for some time and studied under Abu Hayyan Muhammad bin Yusuf Al-Gharnati, obtaining certification in grammar and linguistics.
Upon reaching Mecca, he stayed there for a while and composed his famous work, the Ajrumiyyah. Following this, he decided to return to Fes, where he began teaching the Quran and grammar at the Andalusian Mosque, remaining in this role until his passing.
Major Works of Ibn Ajrum
Ibn Ajrum authored numerous valuable books, among which are:
- Al-Muqaddimah Al-Ajrumiyyah fi Mabadī’ ‘Ilm Al-‘Arabiyyah.
- Fara’id Al-Ma’ani fi Sharh Harz Al-Amany wa Wajh Al-Tahani.
- Al-Arjuzah Al-Bariq fi Asl Maqra Imam Nafi.
- Al-Istidrak Ala Hidayat Al-Murtab.
- Al-Tabsir fi Nazm Al-Tayseer.
- Al-Fatuh Al-Wasl.
- Rawdat Al-Manafi’.
Teachers and Students of Ibn Ajrum
Ibn Ajrum studied under several eminent scholars, including:
- Sheikh Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf Abu Hayyan Al-Nahwi Al-Gharnati, author of “Al-Bahr Al-Muhit” in Tafsir.
- Imam Muhammad bin Al-Qassab Abu Abdullah.
- Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Rahim bin Abdul Rahman bin Al-Tayyib Abu Al-Qasim Al-Qaisi Al-Dharir.
- Abdul Malik bin Musa Abu Marwan.
Notable students who learned from him include:
- His son Abdullah bin Muhammad Abu Muhammad.
- His son Muhammad bin Muhammad Abu Al-Makarem, also known as Mandil, and nicknamed Abu Abdullah.
- Sheikh Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Shu’aib Abu Al-Abbas Al-Jaznani, the physician.
- Professor Abdullah bin Omar Abu Muhammad Al-Wangili, the blind grammarian.
- Muhammad bin Ali bin Omar bin Yahya bin Al-Arabi Al-Ghassani, the grammarian.
- Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq Abu Abdullah, the Hadrami judge.
- Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hizbullah Abu Al-Abbas Al-Sa’idi Al-Khazraji, the grammarian.
- Ibn Hukm.
- Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ali Al-Hasani.
Death of the Esteemed Scholar Ibn Ajrum
The esteemed scholar Ibn Ajrum passed away in the month of Safar in 723 AH (1323 AD) at the age of 51. He was interred at Bab Al-Jizin, known to the locals in Morocco as Bab Al-Hamra, to the right of Bab Al-Futuh in the city of Fes.
The Ajrumiyyah: A Core Work in Arabic Grammar
The Ajrumiyyah is recognized as one of the primary texts in grammar, authored by Ibn Ajrum. It is also referred to by various titles, including Al-Mutan Al-Ajrumi or Al-Muqaddimah Al-Ajrumiyyah. Linguists regard it as one of the most crucial Arabic texts ever written in the field of grammar.
This is reflected in the extensive commentaries and simplifications provided by many linguists and grammatical specialists for students eager to study Arabic and its grammatical sciences. Ibn Ajrum wrote the Ajrumiyyah as a concise summary of “Al-Jamal fi Al-Nahw” by Abu Al-Qasim Abdul Rahman bin Ishaq Al-Zajjaj, which is a comprehensive and extensive work. Therefore, Ibn Ajrum undertook the task of explaining, simplifying, and condensing this significant text.
The Ajrumiyyah consists of 145 sections, covering all grammar and morphology rules, phonetics, poetic necessities, verb conjugation, and the methodology of parsing. It also clarifies the various types of inflected nouns. This book laid the foundations for grammatical studies known in that era and has since proliferated among scholars thanks to its straightforward style, leading to the science of grammar itself being referred to by this name, addressing the principles, characteristics, and rules of the language.