"He" in Sibawayh's Book and its Impact on Grammarians

Abstract

Sibawayh's book is considered the first and the last in grammar and morphology for it is a document for the rules of Arabic at which scholars have stopped and to which they have not added. The succeeding scholars have depended on it and just have explained or summarized it. The late scholars have not added to it but a little; Al-Mazni (died 249 Hegira) said, "Anyone trying to compose a book of grammar after Sibawayh should withdraw". Al- Jahidh (died 255 Hegira) said, " People have not written a book like it and all what has been written about it is premature". Ali Al- Najdi explained that Sibawayh's book is "that great monument made by the prominent scholar in the immortality arena to be a timeless and never ending treasure of Arabic and a sign for his efficiency in it, his knowledge of its complex rules, and his pioneership in illustrating its principles in an unmatchable way: comprehensive view, scholarly efficiency, precise analysis, reliable opinion, and valuable judgment".