166 AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education www. grnjournal.us AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education Volume 3, Issue 2, 2025 ISSN (E): 2993-2769 The Position of "Al-Mufiid" Among Sarf Books Musaev Islomxon Khodi o‘g‘li Arabic language teacher at Alfraganus University Abstract. This article is dedicated to examining the position of Mahmud ibn Umar az-Zamakhshari’s book Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif in the history of Arabic morphology (sarf). The work is concise and covers the fundamental topics of sarf, written in a simplified style for students. However, unlike Zamakhshari’s other works, it did not gain widespread recognition and has survived in very few copies. This study analyzes the book’s structure, methodology, and significance in the field of sarf based on its only known manuscript. Additionally, it provides a detailed description of the manuscript, its errors, and the methodology used for preparing the text for scholarly publication. Key words: Zamakhshari, Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif, Arabic morphology, Arabic grammar, manuscript analysis, tasrif, linguistic studies, critical edition. Introduction Zamakhshari named his book Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif, a title that clearly reflects its subject matter. This work is concise and covers the fundamental topics of sarf (morphology). The author presents these topics in a brief and straightforward manner, avoiding unnecessary details. The book does not delve deeply into complex sarf issues, and despite being the author of Al-Kashshaf, Zamakhshari cites the Quran only once in this work. Additionally, it does not include poetic examples, Arabic proverbs, or famous expressions. There is not even a separate introduction explaining the purpose and content of the book. However, the title itself reveals its objective: Zamakhshari wrote this work to simplify sarf for students and make it easier to memorize. In this regard, he followed the tradition of concise sarf manuals, similar to: Ø Al-Maluki fi at-Tasrif by Ibn Jinni, Ø Nuzhat at-Tarf by Maydani, Ø Al-Miftah fi as-Sarf by Jurjani. Furthermore, Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif is known to be Zamakhshari’s only work on sarf. Therefore, it is likely that he wrote this book as his sole specialized contribution to the field of morphology. This book is dedicated to the conjugation (formation) of verbs and the study of nouns related to verbs. It covers the following topics: Ø Three-root-letter verbs Ø Four-root-letter verbs Ø Augmented three-root-letter and four-root-letter verbs Ø Morphological scale (mīzān aṣ-ṣarfī) Ø Transitive and intransitive verbs 167 AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education www. grnjournal.us Ø Three-consonant and four-consonant verbs (muḍā‘af) Ø Some morphological rules related to the letter "Hamza" Additionally, the author categorizes verbs into five main types: 1. Past tense verb (māḍī) 2. Present tense verb (muḍāri‘) 3. Imperative verb (amr) 4. Verbs of wonder (ta‘ajjub verbs - "Af‘al at-ta‘ajjub") In this book, the author provides a detailed explanation of how past, present, and imperative verbs are formed, how they change in the active and passive voice, and how they connect to pronouns. However, since verbs of wonder have an invariable form, their conjugation is not given much attention. Nevertheless, the author clearly and simply explains how these verbs are formed and the conditions they follow. Furthermore, the book also examines nouns related to verbs, including: Ø Masdar (verbal noun) Ø Active participle (ism al-fā‘il) Ø Passive participle (ism al-maf‘ūl) Ø Comparative and superlative noun (ism at-tafḍīl) Ø Mīmī verbal noun (masdar mīmī) Ø Nouns of time and place With these topics, the book reaches its conclusion. Style (Methodology) In this book, Zamakhshari follows a nearly consistent method, especially in the conjugation of verbs. He first defines the verb, provides examples, and then explains its different types. He classifies verbs into the following categories: Ø Verb in the active voice (mabnī lil-fā‘il) Ø Verb in the passive voice (mabnī lil-maf‘ūl) Afterward, he explains how pronouns can be attached to verbs in the active voice. Then, he categorizes verbs into three main types: 1. Regular verbs (ṣaḥīḥ) 2. Weak verbs (mu‘tal) 3. Doubled verbs (muḍā‘af) Examples for each of these categories are provided, and their conjugation follows this sequence: Ø The verb is first connected to third-person pronouns (he, they, she). Ø Then, it is conjugated with second-person pronouns (you, you all, you - feminine). Ø Finally, it is linked to first-person pronouns (I, we). Zamakhshari consistently follows this method when explaining past tense, present tense, and imperative verbs. Additionally, he divides weak verbs into three types: 1. Verbs with a weak initial letter (miṡāl) 2. Verbs with a weak middle letter (ajwaf) 168 AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education www. grnjournal.us 3. Verbs with a weak final letter (nāqiṣ) However, he does not use the term miṡāl in the section on present tense verbs in the active voice (muḍāri‘ mabnī lil-fā‘il), although he does use the terms ajwaf and nāqiṣ. Similarly, he does not mention the name miṡāl when explaining how pronouns attach to past tense verbs in the active voice. Methodology Zamakhshari begins verb classification with three-letter verbs, followed by their augmented forms or four-letter verb structures. Approach to Nouns Derived from Verbs Zamakhshari discusses the masdar (verbal noun), ism al-fā‘il (active participle), and ism al-maf‘ūl (passive participle) in a similar manner. He first explains how these nouns are derived from three- letter verbs and then classifies their other forms. A Critical Perspective on Zamakhshari’s Methodology However, it is worth noting that Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif does not follow a clear and consistent principle of section division. Unlike his work Al-Mufassal, where chapters and sections are arranged systematically, this book lacks an obvious structure. Ø The book does not include section or chapter titles at the beginning. Ø The rules regarding three-letter verbs are explained without a distinct heading. Ø There is inconsistency in how verb types are categorized: o The present tense verb (muḍāri‘) is presented as a separate section (faṣl). o The imperative verb (amr) is introduced as a chapter (bāb). o The past tense verb (māḍī) is neither classified as a section nor a chapter. This lack of structural consistency and precise organization indicates that the book does not maintain a fully systematic and coherent arrangement. Second Section: Research Characteristics Manuscript Description To my knowledge, there is only one existing copy of this book. It is preserved at the Juma Al-Majid Center for Manuscripts in the United Arab Emirates under the catalog number 256267. This copy is a photographic reproduction of the original manuscript, which was housed in the Mar’ashi Public Library in Qom, Iran, with the catalog number 4047. The manuscript bears the stamp of "Ayatollah Al-Uzma Mar’ashi Najafi Public Library" on its cover, as well as at the beginning and end of the text. The manuscript consists of ten folios, with two pages per folio. Each page contains approximately 25 lines, with each line comprising 8–13 words. Written in Naskh script, the manuscript’s handwriting is clear and legible. The grammatical diacritics in morphological examples are meticulously provided. The copyist, who transcribed and owned the manuscript, appears to have had a keen interest in knowledge, particularly in Tasrif (morphology), as evidenced by his careful attention to applying grammatical markings correctly. However, minor errors are present, likely due to the copyist’s oversight or haste. Some sections of the manuscript show damage along the dividing lines between pages. As a result, the last line of the preceding page and the first line of the following page have occasionally become intermixed. Nevertheless, the manuscript is well-preserved and possesses independent scholarly value, eliminating the need for additional copies. Most importantly, this manuscript was transcribed very close to the author’s lifetime, as the copyist recorded that he completed it in 653 AH (1255 CE). 169 AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education www. grnjournal.us Additional Notes on the Manuscript At the top of the first page of the manuscript, several poetic verses are inscribed. The title of the book appears on the last page, but the author's name is not mentioned there. However, on the second page, both the full title of the book and the author’s name are explicitly recorded. Additionally, this page contains the name of the book’s owner and the scribe who copied the manuscript. The text reads as follows: "Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif" – this book was written by the renowned scholar, exegete, and distinguished polymath, the pride of Khwarazm, Imam Mahmud ibn Umar az-Zamakhshari. Furthermore, the scribe included a personal supplication, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, stating: "Whoever relies on Allah, He will suffice him. This book was copied by the owner and compiler of this collection, Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah. He asks Allah to forgive his sins and conceal his faults." Research Methodology 1. I transcribed the original manuscript while preserving the original page numbers, which I indicated in square brackets ([ ]). 2. I noted errors, distortions, or alterations present in the manuscript. Any extra letters mistakenly added in the manuscript were enclosed in square brackets ([ ]) and explained in footnotes. 3. Any missing words or those necessary for logical coherence were placed in square brackets ([ ]) and explained in the footnotes. However, if a missing portion consisted of only one word, I did not use brackets but recorded it only in the footnotes to maintain the natural structure of the text. 4. Qur’anic verses were written according to the Uthmani script standards. 5. Headings and section titles used by Zamakhshari were redefined based on their meaning and placed in square brackets ([ ]). However, since these are editorial additions, I did not mark them in the footnotes. 6. Lexical terms mentioned by the author were verified against reliable dictionaries and morphological grammar sources. 7. I inserted punctuation marks to enhance clarity and readability. 8. Spelling errors were corrected in accordance with modern orthographic conventions. 9. Examples and morphological patterns (wazn) were carefully transcribed with accurate diacritical markings to ensure correct pronunciation. Conclusion This research is dedicated to analyzing the significance of "Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif" by Mahmud ibn Umar az-Zamakhshari in the history of Arabic morphology (sarf). Throughout the study, the structure, methodology, and scholarly importance of the book were thoroughly examined. Zamakhshari wrote this work to simplify the study of morphology for students. The book is concise and presents the classification of verbs, their formation, and various grammatical structures without unnecessary details. However, unlike his other works, it did not gain widespread recognition, possibly due to the scarcity or loss of its copies. The manuscript study revealed that the only known copy was transcribed in 653 AH, making it a significant academic source. During the research, the text was preserved in its original form while necessary grammatical and stylistic corrections were made. Additionally, certain inconsistencies and structural gaps within the book were identified and clarified from a scholarly perspective. Overall, "Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif" is a valuable and historic work in the field of Arabic morphology. Publishing and making it accessible to researchers is a crucial step in advancing Arabic linguistics. 170 AMERICAN Journal of Language, Literacy and Learning in STEM Education www. grnjournal.us This effort not only highlights Zamakhshari’s contribution to morphology but also enriches the study of Arabic grammar. References: 1. Zamakhshari, Mahmud ibn Umar. Al-Mufid fi at-Tasrif. Manuscript No. 256267, Juma al-Majid Manuscript Center, UAE. 2. Ibn Jinni, Abu al-Fath Uthman. Al-Maluki fi at-Tasrif. 3. Maydani, Ahmad ibn Muhammad. Nuzhat at-Tarf. 4. Jurjani, Abdulqahir. Al-Miftah fi as-Sarf. 5. Zamakhshari, Mahmud ibn Umar. Al-Mufassal fi an-Nahw. 6. Zamakhshari, Mahmud ibn Umar. Al-Kashshof an Haqoiq at-Tanzil.