Studying Nahw: Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen
Bismillah
Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen rahimahullah says:
The science of nahw (grammar) is a noble science tha is a means to two important things:
- Having an understanding of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Comprehension of these two will give one understanding and knowledge of grammar.
- Establishing the tongue upon the Arabic language that the words of Allah were revealed in; this is why having an understanding of nahw is a very important matter. Although, nahw in the beginning stages is difficult to comprehend, it becomes easier in the end. The similitude is given: a house of straw, but a door of iron, meaning it is difficult to get inside, but once you are in, everything is easy for you. This is why it is necessary for the people to have a strong desire and motivation during the beginning stages of learning until it becomes easier upon them in the end.
Furthermore, we do not take into consideration the words of the one who says: “grammar is difficult!”, because the student thinks that he will never become firmly established in grammar, and this is not correct. Rather it is upon the student to study and concentrate in the beginning and it will become easy for him in the end.
Some of them (i.e., poets) say:
Nahw is difficult and its staircase is long*
When the one who does not understand it climbs it,
Intending to learn Arabic by it, instead it takes him further away from it.
* (meaning, learning it seems never-ending)
This is not correct, and we do not agree with this. Rather we say: inshaAllah - grammar is easy, its staircase is short and its steps are easy to climb, for the one who understands it from the beginning.
-Short introduction to his sharh of Ajrumiyyah
Amatullah | Arabic, Gems from Uthaymeen, Translation | 03 13th, 2010 |
4 People have left comments on this post
May Allah have mercy on our Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen! How he used to make things easy for the students and give them hope and encourage them to learn rather than make things difficult for them. It makes a big difference when the teacher is optimistic and encourages the students to learn with a positive attitude.
JazakumAllah khayr for sharing these words of encouragement sister. I think most people don’t like studying grammar and find it hard because they haven’t used what they learned and haven’t applied it yet. Once a person applies what they learn and realize its benefits and usefulness in understanding the meanings of the Quran and hadiths, they start to appreciate grammar more.
As a side note, since the RSS feed doesn’t seem to be working, I would suggest that you send them out manually until this problem is fixed so that everyone keeps on benefiting from these posts and reminders inshAllah.
Salamualaikum,
jazak Allah khayr.
i spoke with YQ on this regards about studying grammer in order to understand Qur’an language and we both agreed its not as necessary if you are not ta,rgetting speaking arabic, which is good but not as essential than understanding the language.
Another technique to learn it suggested was to start speaking arabic. Yes you heard it right, even if you don’t know start speaking the language. People will help correct you if you need to be well versed in speech.
If one seeks excellence in the linguistic then traditional book approach suits the best and for such an excellent post you have made. barak Allah feek.
wassalamualaikum
Assalaamu 3Alaykum wa rahmatullaah
Jazakillaahu khayr for this post.
I will be posting it in my blog insha’Allaah :)
I would like to share with you a good news.
A new blog is set up, providing access to different Arabic levels, including:
A book for extreme beginners.
Reading & writing skills
Qur’aanic Arabic (learning grammar from Qur’aan)/(lessons)
& lessons for Advance students
http://www.quranicarabic.wordpress.com
Masha’Allaah, the good thing is, the lessons have exercises at the end
with the answers provided in the next lesson (to check your ability).
wa alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu ukhti,
wa iyyaki alhamdulillah :)
mashaAllah i’ve heard about that blog and have been browsing it, very very nice work mashaAllah! I will be sharing it inshaAllah :) jazaaki Allahu khayran.