The most famous Arabic-language scholars, presented for kids by your site (Belaraby Apps ). Get to know the most prominent scholars of the Arabic language on its international day and be proud of your Arab identity. As the saying goes on World Arabic Language Day: “Do not blame me for loving it; I love no other.“
The Most Famous Arabic-Language Scholars in History
On World Arabic Language Day one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with more than 400 million speakers among the people of the earth.
Although the decision to add Arabic to the official languages of the United Nations was relatively recent (in 1973), it had for many long centuries of its history reigned as the language of politics, science, and literature, according to the official United Nations website. On the occasion of World Arabic Language Day, which falls on December 18 every year, we shine a light on the most prominent scholars of the Arabic language and the most famous figures who served it throughout its long ages.
You can download a printable poster of the most famous Arabic-language scholars and use it to introduce them as part of World Arabic Language Day activities.
1- Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du’ali (أبي الأسود الدؤلي)
Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du’ali (the “King of Grammar”) (16 BH / 69 AH): His name was Zalim bin Amr Al-Kinani. One of the early Tabi’in (successors of the Prophet’s companions), he lived in Basra and died in 688 CE. He was among the first figures to lay the foundations of the Arabic language sciences, as he was a close companion of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah honor him). Imam Ali chose him to draw the first outlines of grammar (nahw), out of concern over errors creeping into the language. Ali guided him to the principle that speech is divided into verb, noun, and particle,
then to follow this up and add to it what was needed.
Who is the Founder of Arabic Grammar?
Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du’ali is the founder of grammar (nahw)
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2- Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi (الخليل بن أحمد الفراهيدي)
Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi (100 – 170 AH) was Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi of Basra, one of the most prominent scholars of Arabic and the originator of the science of prosody (arud) without any prior model.
He is considered the one who laid the foundations of grammar, morphology, phonetics, and other sciences. People took all of their rules from him, and they have continued in use until now.
Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi compiled the dictionary “Kitab Al-Ayn” (The Book of Ayn), the first dictionary in Arabic. He died without completing or refining it, yet scholars have continued to draw from its ocean of knowledge to this day.
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3 – Sibawayh, the Imam of the Grammarians (سيبويه)
Who is the Master of the Arabic Language?
Abu Bishr Amr bin Uthman bin Qanbar, the Persian, then of Basra, who died in 180 AH in his thirties. Despite his young age, he became the foremost authority of his time in the language. He was the leading grammarian after Al-Khalil bin Ahmad, the proof-bearer of the Arabs, and the most prominent student of Al-Khalil. He devoted himself to Arabic, excelled at it, and surpassed the people of his era.
He wrote his great work, which he called “The Great Book,” known as “Kitab Sibawayh” (The Book of Sibawayh), covering grammar, morphology, phonetics, and language. It is a unique book without precedent, and from Sibawayh’s time until now, people cannot do without it.
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4- Al-Kisa’i (الكسائي)
Ali bin Hamza Al-Asadi Al-Kufi, who died in 189 AH.
Why Was Imam Al-Kisa’i Given This Name?
“Al-Kisa’i” comes from “kisa'” (a cloak/garment). It is said he was named after a cloak he wore while in the state of ihram, or after a cloak he wrapped himself in at a mosque where Hamza Al-Zayyat the seventh of the seven Quran reciters used to recite. He is considered the true founder of the Kufan school of grammar. He has several works, including “The Meanings of the Quran” (Ma’ani Al-Quran), a book on the Quranic readings, “The Great Book of Rarities” (Al-Nawadir Al-Kabir), and a concise grammar. Al-Shafi’i said of him: “Whoever wants to master grammar is indebted to Al-Kisa’i.”
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5- Ibn Malik (ابن مالك)
(Ibn Malik) Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Malik Al-Ta’i Al-Jayyani, who died in 672 AH. He was a great linguist and the foremost grammarian of the seventh century AH. Born in Andalusia, he migrated to the Levant
and settled in Damascus. He produced many works, the most famous of which is the “Alfiyya,” known as «The Alfiyya of Ibn Malik», a poem of a thousand lines that contains most of the rules of grammar and morphology.
Scholars have given great attention to this text memorizing, studying, and commenting on it. He was a master of grammar and language, and a scholar of Arab poetry, the Quranic readings, and the narration of Hadith.
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6- Ibn Manzur (ابن منظور)
Ibn Manzur (630 – 711 AH) was Muhammad bin Mukarram bin Ali bin Manzur Al-Ansari, author of the dictionary “Lisan Al-Arab” (The Tongue of the Arabs). He left behind about 500 volumes written in his own hand,
and his most famous book, “Lisan Al-Arab” (20 volumes), gathered the major dictionaries of the language, almost making them all unnecessary.
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7- Abu Hayyan (أبو حيان)
Abu Hayyan.. (654 – 745 AH)
His name was Muhammad bin Yusuf bin Hayyan Al-Andalusi. He mastered Hadith and excelled in Quranic exegesis, Arabic, the Quranic readings, literature, and history. He commented on the works of Ibn Malik, encouraged people to read them, and explained their difficult points.
He left behind great works in the various Arabic language sciences, some of which are among the most extensive ever written on grammar and morphology in particular.
The most famous and greatest of Abu Hayyan’s works is his vast Quranic commentary “Al-Bahr Al-Muhit” (The Surrounding Ocean), considered the pinnacle of commentaries concerned with grammar,
without equal. He was aided in it by carrying out the work under the dome of Sultan Al-Mansur Qalawun at the start of the eighth century AH.
8- Al-Mubarrad (المبرد)
He was Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad bin Yazid Al-Azdi, one of the most important scholars of the language. “Al-Mubarrad” was his nickname, the reason for which has been disputed.
Why Was Al-Mubarrad Given This Name?
He was nicknamed “Al-Mubarrad” some say for his handsome face, others for his precision and excellent answers, while some attributed it mockingly to the “burda” (cloak), out of jealousy and envy.
He lived in Basra, then Baghdad, between 826 and 898 CE. His peers, as Al-Qifti reported, attested to his abundant knowledge and learning, his remarkable memory,
his eloquence in speech and expression, the sweetness of his conversation and the eloquence of his writing, the excellence of his handwriting, his sharp wit, and his sound reasoning.
He was keen to master the language sciences, their methods, and the ways to explain and clarify them,
and he wrote many books that gathered all of these sciences, such as: “Al-Kamil” in rhetoric, language, and literature.
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9- Al-Jahiz (الجاحظ)
Founder of Literary Criticism
Abu Uthman Amr bin Bahr bin Mahbub bin Fazara Al-Laythi Al-Kinani Al-Basri, an Arab writer and one of the great masters of literature in the Abbasid era. He was known as “Al-Jahiz” because of the noticeable bulging of his eyes; he was first nicknamed “Al-Hadaqi,” but became more widely known as Al-Jahiz.
He is the founder of literary criticism, with more than 260 works on various subjects. He was also a lover and devotee of reading,
so much so that he died buried among his books and volumes. When he reached the age of ninety, he was struck by paralysis and old age, yet he continued to read.
While sitting in his library reading some of his favorite books, a row of books fell on him and killed him.
10- Ibn Jinni (ابن جني)
Who is Ibn Jinni and Why Was He Given This Name?
Abu Al-Fath Uthman bin Jinni Al-Mawsili, who died in 392 AH. He wrote “Al-Khasa’is” (The Characteristics) on philology, and “Sirr Al-Sina’a” (The Secret of the Craft) on inflection. He was a companion of the poet Al-Mutanabbi and is considered the first to comment on the poems of Al-Mutanabbi’s diwan.
Arab historians do not record his lineage beyond his father, since he was not of Arab descent. His father, Jinni, was a Greek-Roman freed slave of Sulaiman bin Fahd bin Ahmad Al-Azdi, one of the notables of Mosul.
11- Al-Jawhari (الجوهري)
Ismail bin Hammad Al-Jawhari, who died in 393 AH. He was the author of the dictionary “Taj Al-Lugha wa Sihah Al-Arabiyya” (The Crown of the Language and the Sound Arabic), one of the earliest Arabic dictionaries of words arranged by chapters and sections.
12- Ibn Faris (ابن فارس)
Who is Ibn Faris?
Abu Al-Husayn Ahmad bin Faris bin Zakariyya Al-Qazwini Al-Razi, who died in 395 AH. He was one of the brilliant scholars who wrote in several fields: language, literature, rhetoric, the principles of jurisprudence, and Quranic exegesis. Among his works are the dictionary “Maqayis Al-Lugha” (Standards of the Language), the book “The Disagreements of the Grammarians” (Ikhtilaf Al-Nahwiyyin), “Tamam Fasih Al-Kalam,” and other books and works. He was the second person to attempt flight after Abbas Ibn Firnas, and he died in the attempt.
13- Al-Zamakhshari (الزمخشري)
Al-Zamakhshari: Imam of Hadith, Exegesis, Grammar, and Rhetoric Abu Al-Qasim Mahmud bin Umar bin Muhammad bin Umar Al-Khwarizmi Al-Zamakhshari, one of the most famous scholars of the Arabic language and
one of the leading authorities in religious knowledge, exegesis, language, and literature. He was known to be Mu’tazili in theology and Hanafi in jurisprudence, openly proclaiming his Mu’tazili school,
and he devoted great effort in his Quranic commentary to interpreting the verses according to the Mu’tazili school and its five principles.
14- Mu’adh bin Muslim Al-Harra’ (معاذ بن مسلم الهرّاء)
Mu’adh bin Muslim Al-Harra’, the Kufan grammarian, was known as Abu Muslim and was a client (mawla) of Muhammad bin Ka’b Al-Qurazi. He was born in Iraq and died there in 803 CE. He narrated from Ata bin Al-Sa’ib and other masters of the language. He was very long-lived, outliving his children and grandchildren. He wrote much on grammar, although his works did not become famous or widely circulated. He was called “the Master of Grammar,” some of his readings in the Quranic recitations were passed down, Al-Kisa’i was among his students, and he composed a little poetry.
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15- Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti (جلال الدين السيوطي)
Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti.. (849 – 911 AH) was Abd Al-Rahman Abu Bakr bin Muhammad bin Sabiq Al-Din. Born in Cairo, he grew up an orphan, memorized the Quran at the age of eight, and became one of the leading religious authorities of his era.
He studied grammar, jurisprudence, and the laws of inheritance, and grew up in a household of learning. He withdrew from people after the age of forty and devoted himself to scholarship and writing, producing nearly 600 works on the Arabic language
and other various branches of knowledge.
16- Al-Asma’i (الأصمعي)
Who is Al-Asma’i and Why Was He Given This Name?
He was Abd Al-Malik bin Qurayb bin Asma’ Al-Bahili, nicknamed “the Narrator of the Arabs” and known as Abu Sa’id Al-Asma’i. He lived in Basra between 740 and 828 CE and was one of the leading authorities on poetry, language, and geography, a master of rare expressions, fine words, and curiosities. Al-Dhahabi said of him in his biographical accounts that he was one of the truthful narrators of historical reports, and confirmed that he studied under Imam Al-Shafi’i. Al-Rabi’ bin Sulaiman said: “I never saw anyone express the speech of the Arabs more beautifully than Al-Asma’i.” Among his famous works is the poem “Sawt Safir Al-Bulbul” (The Song of the Nightingale’s Whistle), which he composed before the caliph. He also wrote: “The Book of Genus” (Kitab Al-Ajnas), “Verses of Meanings” (Abyat Al-Ma’ani), “Derivation” (Al-Ishtiqaq), and “Al-Asma’iyyat”, among others.
17- Muhammad bin Ajurrum (محمد بن آجروم)
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Dawud Al-Sanhaji, who died in 723 AH. A Moroccan jurist and grammarian, he became famous for his book “Al-Muqaddima Al-Ajurrumiyya” (The Ajurrumiyya Introduction to the Principles of Arabic), in which he covered grammar, morphology, phonetics, and poetic licenses. It is considered one of the most important Arabic grammar books and is taught in faculties of language and Islamic law.
18- Ibn Aqil (ابن عقيل)
Baha’ Al-Din Abdullah bin Abd Al-Rahman bin Abdullah bin Aqil, who died in 769 AH. A descendant of Aqil bin Abi Talib, he was born and died in Cairo and held the position of Chief Judge there. He wrote the famous commentary based on the Alfiyya of Ibn Malik, known by his name as “Sharh Ibn Aqil” (The Commentary of Ibn Aqil), on grammar and morphology.
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We have presented to you the most famous and most prominent Arabic-language scholars in history. Our Arabic language is a source of pride for every Arab and a source of pride in Arab identity. Much has been said about the beauty of the Arabic language not only by Arabs and its native speakers, but by many foreign historians and orientalists as well.
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Video: Information About the Arabic Language for Kids
A video presentation about World Arabic Language Day (December 18), presented by Belaraby Apps for kids on Arabic Language Day,
with information about the Arabic language and facts and figures about it.
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Illustrated Stories About the Arabic Language for Kids
Illustrated stories in general help shape a child’s awareness, broaden their culture, and instill values and morals.
Illustrated stories for kids about the Arabic language in particular fill them with meanings and mental images and grow their vocabulary.
The Hekayat Belaraby (Arabic Stories) app brings you a series of illustrated stories for teaching the Arabic language and a love of reading, planting a love of Arabic in our children from an early age, and helping to teach them the basics of correct reading and proper spelling.
Don’t miss the illustrated children’s stories about teaching Arabic to kids; they motivate little ones to learn the language in a simple way. Here are the most beautiful illustrated educational stories about the Arabic language to use as teaching and guidance aids.
Read them written and illustrated in the Hekayat Belaraby app, used as teaching aids for kindergartens during World Arabic Language Day activities.
For more illustrated stories for kids, read to your child and teach them to love reading with more than 500 illustrated Arabic stories for kids and new, meaningful children’s stories in the Hekayat Belaraby app
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