Ibn Hisham’s Methodology Ibn Hisham’s Methodology in Grammatical Interpretation Through His Book Mughni al-Labib ‘an Kutub al-A‘arib

Abstract

This research aims to explore the role of Qur’anic readings in shaping grammatical and morphological rules, as well as to identify the methods and foundations adopted by Ibn Hisham in his grammatical and morphological interpretations in his book Mughni al-Labib ‘an Kutub al-A‘arib. The study applies a descriptive-analytical method while benefiting from the historical approach to examine Ibn Hisham’s biography, sources, and grammatical school. It also utilizes inductive analysis of selected Qur’anic readings interpreted by Ibn Hisham and analyzes them scientifically. The study concludes that Ibn Hisham considered the canonical (mutawatir) readings as a fundamental basis for formulating grammatical rules, while he occasionally referred to irregular (shadh) readings for interpretive and comparative purposes. This reveals his critical awareness and balanced methodology. His approach is characterized by conscious selectivity between the Basran and Kufan schools, linking grammatical theory with Qur’anic application, and employing reasoning based on both analogy and context. He did not merely transmit previous views but engaged in critical evaluation, highlighting the flexibility of grammatical rules and their ability to accommodate variations in Qur’anic readings. This makes him a pioneering model combining theory and practice, heritage and innovation. Moreover, he relied on multiple types of evidence from poetry, hadith, and prose, often prioritizing Qur’anic readings over them. The grammatical issues discussed include topics such as case analysis, and the debates between the Basran and Kufan grammarians over subjects, predicates, and agents. Morphological issues are reflected in his explanation of phenomena like substitution, assimilation, addition, and omission.

Keywords: methodology, grammatical interpretation, Mughni al-Labib.