A Commentary on al-Ajrumiyyah - A Bilingual Rendition of al-Tuhfat al-Saniyyah

A full Arabic - English bilingual rendition of Muḥammad Muḥī al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd’s (d. 1393h) renowned commentary on Ibn Ājurūm’s (d. 723h) Naḥw (Arabic Grammar) primer entitled al-Tuḥfat al-Saniyyah bi Sharḥ al-Muqadimmat al-Ājrūmiyyah with supplementary notes from other commentaries.

Muqaddimah al-Ajurrumiyyah fi Mabadi’ Ilm al-Arabiyyah is written in verse for easy memorization, it formed the foundation of a beginner's education in Classical Arabic learning in Arab societies of the time and was one of the first books to be memorized after the Qur'an along with the Nahw work Alfiya.

Tuhfat al-Sanniyyah bi Sharh al-Muqadimat al-Ajrumiyyah, written by Shaykh Muhammad Muhyidin 'Abd al-Majid, is by far one of the best commentaries of late. It has been well received among the most Madaris or educational institutes. For instance, it is being used as a curriculum textbook of the Intensive Arabic Program of Dr. Bilal Philips' Islamic Online University.

ʿUmar bin al-Khaṭṭāb (ra) said, “Learn the Arabic language, it will produce intellect and increase you in respectable behaviour.” [Shuʿab al-Īmān of al-Bayhaqī, 1551]

Ibn Ḥazm said, “Anyone who seeks knowledge of naḥw and the Arabic language with the intention of implementing the Sharīʿah and understanding the Words of Allah, the Most High, and the words of His Prophet, and to have a broader understanding of the religion; then this person will have a great reward and a lofty status by which he will not be surpassed by anyone.”
[Rasāʾil ibn Ḥazm 3/162]

Al-Suyūtī said, “Those who explained this book (al-Ājrūmiyyah), such as al-Makūdī, al-Rāʿī and others, have described its author as being an imām in naḥw, and possessing many blessings and benefits. An example of this is his Muqadimmah which has been extremely beneficial for beginners in studying naḥw.” [Bugyat al-Wu’āt fi Ṭabaqāt al-Lughawiyīn wa al-Nuḥāt 1/238]

Ibn Ḥāj said, “Proof that this book is beneficial is that Allah has given it acceptance, to the extent that this has become the very first book (for beginners) that is studied prior to the commencement of reading the Qurʾān al-Aẓīm. This Muqadimmah will give you benefits and understanding in the shortest time possible.” [al-Taliqātu al-Jaliyyatu ʿalā Sharḥ al-Ājrūmiyyah, p. 43]

Details

Title:  A Commentary on al-Ajrumiyyah : A Bilingual Rendition of al-Tuhfat al-Saniyyah
Author: Ibn Ajurrum
Commentator: Muhammad Muhi al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Hamid
Translator: Adnan Karim
Publisher: Dar Al-Arqam - UK
Pages: 408
Volumes: 1
Size:  15.1 cm x 21.6 cm - A5 Size
Binding: Hardback
Edition Number: 1st
Year Of Publication: 2018
Weight:  0.75 kg

About Author

He was Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud As-Sinhaji better known by the name of Ibn Ajurum. His name Sinhaji is a tribe in the Maghrib. Ibn Ajurum was born in the city of Fez, Morocco in the year 672 H. This is also the year wherein the other Nahw expert Imam Ibn Malik, the author of Alfiyyah died.

Initially, Ibn Ajurum Fas studying in the city, and then he set out on the pilgrimage to Mecca. When passing through Cairo, he studied Nahw with Abu Hayyan, an expert  in Andalus, until he graduated with him. Imam Ibn Ajurum compiled few works;

--- al-Muqaddimat al-Ajurrumiyyah; this grammar work is most famed work compiled in the year 719 H, four years before he died. It was said that Imam Ibn Ajurum wrote this famed work infront of the Ka'bah, as mentioned by al-Ra'i and Ibn al-Haj. It also reported that when he finished it he threw it in the ocean saying "If indeed this book was written in Sincerity to Allah, then surely it will survive." It has indeed survived to the extend where less of the author is known but the work is universally accepted.

--- Fara'id al-Ma'ani fi Sharh Hirz al-Amani; This is a commentary of Manzumat al-Shatibiyyah on the seven Qira'at.

--- Majmu'at Arajiz fi'l Qira'at wa'l Tajwid wa'l Adab wa Ghayriha,

Ibn Ajurum rahimahullah died in the city of Fez on Monday, the 10th of Safar 723 AH.

About Commentator

He was al-Allamah Abu Raja' Muhammad Muhy al-Din Ibn 'Abd al-Hamid b. Ibrahim al-Misri. born in Cairo in 1900. He initialy gained his knowledge in Dimyat than moved to al-Azhar up to the point of his graduation in 1925. He became an expert of grammarian and wrote many works on the field and other subjects until he was called the 'Suyuti of Today' (Suyuti al-'Asr).

Some of the popular works he wrote are:

--- al-Tuhfat al-Saniyyah bi Sharh al-Muqaddimat al-Ajurrumiyyah,

--- al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah fi' Shari'ah al-Islamiyyah,

--- Ahkam al-Mawarith 'ala Madhahib al-Arba'ah,

--- Tahdhib al-Sa'ad

and many others.

He passed away 1973 in Cairo and had a much attended burial.