Ibn al-A'rabi
Ibn al-Aʿrābī (ابن الاعرابى) | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 760 |
| Died | 846 |
| Other names | Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ziyād ibn al-Aʿrābī (ابو عبد الله محمد بن زياد الاعرابى) |
| Academic work | |
| Era | Abbasid Era |
| School or tradition | Grammarians of Kufa |
| Main interests | philology, natural science, Ḥadīth, tafsir, poetry |
Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ziyād (ابو عبد الله محمد بن زياد), surnamed Ibn al-Aʿrābī (ابن الاعرابى) (ca. 760 – 846, Sāmarrā); a philologist, genealogist, and oral traditionist of Arabic tribal poetry. A grammarian of the school of al-Kūfah, who rivalled the grammarians of al-Baṣrah in poetry recital. He was famous for his knowledge of rare expressions and for transmitting the famous anthology of ancient Arabic poetry, Al-Mufaḍḍalīyāt.
The meaning of the word A'rābī, and its difference to the word Arabī, is explained by the exegete al-Sijistānī, in his book on rare Qur’ānic terms: A'rābī is an Arab desert inhabitant, whereas Arabī is a non-desert dwelling Arab.