Preferences of the Commentators of al-Muqaddimah al-Jazuliyya for Grammatical Expressions in Its Manuscript Versions: A Critical Analytical Study

Abstract

The study examines the preferences of the commentators on Al-Jazuli's "Al-Muqaddimah Al-Jazuliyyah" regarding the grammatical phrases used by Abu Musa Al-Jazuli in different versions of the text. It analyzes these preferences and evaluates them based on linguistic and grammatical evidence. The study reveals the depth of Al-Jazuli's expressions in some instances and the ambiguity of some phrases in others. The research showed that the most prominent commentator on the text is al-Shalubeen, whose interpretations of Al-Muqaddimah's expressions are closest to Al-Jazuli's intention. It also notes that some commentators followed al-Shalubeen`s interpretations quite closely Furthermore, the study highlights Al-Jazuli's occasional distinction through expressions that demonstrate his strong mastery of Arabic grammar. It observes the similarity of expressions across the various versions in some instances, while some expressions are more convincingly preferable in certain contexts. However, some of the preferences expressed by the commentators are open to further scrutiny, albeit rarely. The study also outlines the criteria used by the commentators to favor one version over another, with the primary focus on semantic accuracy and adherence to grammatical rules.

The findings indicate that Al-Jazuli's expressions, in rare cases, allow for more than one interpretation, which reduces the strength of the preference for one version over another.