A Classical Masterpiece in Arabic Morphology (Ṣarf)

By Mufti Ināyat Aḥmad Kakorvī (d. 1279 AH / 1863 CE)

Arabic Translation, Commentary, Exercises, and Scholarly Editorial Review

For generations, ‘Ilm al-Ṣīghah has been one of the most respected introductory texts on Arabic morphology (ʿIlm al-Ṣarf) taught in the traditional Dars-i Niẓāmī curriculum throughout the Indian subcontinent. Written by the distinguished scholar Mufti Ināyat Aḥmad Kakorvī (d. 1279 AH / 1863 CE), this concise yet comprehensive work systematically introduces students to Arabic verb patterns, morphological structures, weak verbs (al-muʿtallāt), and the foundational principles of Arabic word formation. It has long served as a stepping stone for students progressing to the study of tafsīr, hadith, fiqh, and the other Islamic sciences.

Originally authored in Persian—the principal language of instruction in many madrasahs of the Indian subcontinent during its time—the work became a cornerstone of traditional Arabic education. Its clarity, precision, and systematic arrangement earned it a lasting place in the curriculum of countless Islamic seminaries.

Recognizing the enduring value of this classic, Shaykh Muḥammad Kalīmuddīn al-Qāsimī, a teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband, translated the work into eloquent Arabic, making this South Asian masterpiece readily accessible to Arabic-speaking students and to seminaries around the world. He further enriched the edition with his commentary, ‘Iqd al-Ṣīghah (عقد الصيغة), in which he explains difficult concepts, clarifies subtle morphological principles, and provides guidance on issues that often challenge beginning students.

To facilitate learning and memorization, the edition also includes carefully prepared morphological tables (jadāwil) that present verb paradigms and derivational patterns in a clear, systematic format. These tables enable students to visualize grammatical relationships and master the patterns essential for reading classical Arabic with confidence.

A distinctive feature of this edition is the inclusion of practical exercises and assessment questions prepared by Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Rashīd ibn Maqṣūd al-Hāshimī, teacher at Jāmiʿah ʿUlūm al-Islāmiyyah, Binnori Town (Karachi). These exercises were developed specifically for Shaykh Muḥammad Kalīmuddīn al-Qāsimī's Arabic translation and commentary and are entirely different from the exercise set Mawlānā al-Hāshimī previously prepared for Shaykh Walī Muẓaffar's Arabic translation of ‘Ilm al-Ṣīghah. (See here).  While both editions benefit from his extensive teaching experience, each contains its own independently designed questions and exercises tailored to the respective translation and commentary. Students and instructors familiar with the earlier edition will therefore find fresh instructional material in this volume, making it an excellent resource for classroom teaching, revision, and independent study.

The work has been carefully reviewed and edited by Shaykh Jamāl Ḥasan Shāhanah of Al-Azhar University (Egypt), bringing together the scholarly traditions of three of the Muslim world's foremost institutions of Islamic learning:

• Darul Uloom Deoband (India)
• Jāmiʿah ʿUlūm al-Islāmiyyah, Binnori Town (Pakistan)
• Al-Azhar University (Egypt)

Published by Maktabat al-Ghanim, this outstanding edition successfully combines the strengths of traditional ṣarf instruction with the advantages of modern academic presentation. It preserves the integrity of the original text while providing the explanatory tools, visual aids, and practical exercises needed by today's students.

Features

• Classical text on Arabic morphology (ʿIlm al-Ṣarf)
• Arabic translation of the original Persian text
• ‘Iqd al-Ṣīghah commentary by Shaykh Muḥammad Kalīmuddīn al-Qāsimī
• Comprehensive morphological tables for verb conjugations and derivational patterns
• A new, original set of exercises and assessment questions by Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Rashīd al-Hāshimī
• Scholarly review and editorial supervision by Shaykh Jamāl Ḥasan Shāhanah of Al-Azhar University
• Suitable for classroom instruction, self-study, and revision
• Beautifully typeset and professionally published by Maktabat al-Ghanim

Whether you are beginning your study of Arabic morphology, teaching in a traditional madrasah, or seeking a structured resource for independent learning, this edition of ‘Ilm al-Ṣīghah offers an ideal balance between classical scholarship and contemporary pedagogy. By combining a time-honored text with an elegant Arabic translation, explanatory commentary, comprehensive tables, and an entirely new set of instructional exercises, it stands as one of the most complete and student-friendly editions of this celebrated work available today.