Have you ever felt so proud about something that you have accomplished that you have feared Allah for it?
That is what happened to Ibn Ajurrum, the author of the famous book Al-Ajurrumiyyah (a beginner's and intermediate text for learning Arabic grammar). When he finished writing this most beneficial book, he threw it away because he thought too much of himself for having written it.
But let’s start at the beginning.
Who was Ibn Ajurrum?
His full name was Abu Abd Allah Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Dawud al-Sanhadji al-Ajurrumi. He was born in Fez in 672/1273. He is best known as Ibn Ajurrum, after which name his famous book is titled.
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ajurrum began his studies in the city of Fes in a range of different Islamic disciplines. As it was the custom in those times, students of knowledge would travel through the Islamic world to benefit from different Shuyukh.
Ibn Ajurrum travelled to Makkah to perform the Hajj and, on his way, he stopped in Cairo to study Arabic grammar with the known scholar Abu Hayyan Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Gharnati al-Andalusi. He obtained from him an ijazah (teaching certificate) for Arabic grammar.
Ibn Ajurrum was also a learned faqih, a brilliant mathematician and had a vast and profound knowledge of the different Quran recitations and the sciences of tajweed.
The composition of the Al-Ajurrumiyyah
It is said that he wrote the book Al-Ajurrumiyyah in front of the Kaaba while he was in Makkah. It was normal for travellers that had come to perform the Hajj to spend some time in Makkah and Madinah after completing the Hajj rites.
The objective of Ibn Ajurrum was to compile a short book that would contain everything that one would need, in terms of grammar, to speak and understand Arabic correctly.
He wrote the book in poetry for two reasons. The first was to make it easy to memorise. The second was to make it short and concise but contain within it the seeds of much larger grammar treatises. These two objectives are best achieved with poetry.
And, thanks to Allah, he achieved both objectives. Many students and scholars still today memorise this book; and many commentaries, such as al-Tuhfat al-Saniyyah bi Sharh al-Muqadimmat al-Ajrumiyyah, have been written.
Why did Ibn Ajurrum throw this book away?
It is related that Ibn Ajurrum, while on his way back from Makkah to Fes, threw this book away. Some say that he threw it in the desert and some that he threw it in the sea.
Although the authenticity of this tale is questionable, it serves to illustrate the sincerity of Ibn Ajurrum, which has been confirmed by how beneficial Allah has made this book and the popularity it has achieved.
It is said that Ibn Ajurrum felt really proud of having written this book. He was astonished at how he was able to compose a poem so eloquent and precise that contained what is necessary to speak and understand Arabic.
He attributed the merit to himself. But due to his sincerity and truthfulness of intention, he immediately turned to Allah and attributed all merit to Him. He threw the book away and made a dua. He asked Allah that if the text had any benefit, then Allah will make it find a way to the people.
When he arrived at Fes, he found that the text had reached there before him.
He spent his life teaching this book and other Islamic subject and died in 723/1323 rahimahu Allah.
Geplaatst door Gentleman. 