Asan Sarf [Part 1]

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Asan Sarf [Part 1]

The Arabic language sub-science known as صرف – referring roughly to what we know as Morphology as well as Etymology – is a subject through which one learns the internal assembly of a word by way of patterns of vowelization and introduction of extra letters—or what we call a template.

Morphology differs from Lexicology in the sense that the latter gives the root meaning associated with a set of base letters, whereas the former gives all other meanings and connotations achieved by the template.

We have the basics covered here for you. Arabic verb morphology has rules that it abides by and if recognised, everything will fall into place.

Let’s first define Arabic morphology which is referred to as صرف /sarf/ or تصريف /tasreef/ (the verb version of it). In Arabic morphology, some internal changes of a word take place and this is due to many reasons. Whatever led to that, there is a certain pattern that is followed by the Arabic language. For example, the morphological process of voweling Arabic words. Sometimes it is simply the addition of other Arabic letters to the “original” word. With /sarf/, we can recognize not only denotative meanings but connotative ones as well.

Having said that, this book looks into three main sub-topics that deal with verb morphology: conjugation processes, verb paradigms and related connotations, and rules of irregularity.

There are four sections for simple conjugation and that includes the perfect tense, imperfect tense, command and prohibition, and derived nouns.

Primer on Arabic Etymology by Mufti Sa'id Ahmad Palanpuri (Lecturer Darul Uloom Deoband) Primer on Arabic Etymology by Mufti Sa'id Ahmad Palanpuri (Lecturer Darul Uloom Deoband)

Other Books Included In The Asan Sarf Series

About The Author

Early life and primary education

Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mufti Saʿīd Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf ibn ʿAlī Pālanpūrī was born in the Palanpur region, situated in North Gujarat, India in approximately 1359/1940. It was here that he acquired his primary (Maktab) education.

Subsequently, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Chhapi where he studied Persian by his maternal uncle Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Shīrā and other teachers. After six months, his uncle left the institute, so he also left with him and continued his Persian studies with him in his uncle’s village.

Thereafter, Mufti Ṣāḥib enrolled at a seminary in Palanpur city which was being managed by the great reformer Mawlānā Nadhīr Miyā Ṣāḥib. Here, Mufti Ṣāḥib studied the first four years of the ʿAlim programme until Sharḥ Jāmī. His teachers included Mufti Muḥammad Akbar Miyā Pālanpūrī and Mawlānā Hāshim Bukhārī, who was a graduate of Darul Uloom Deoband originally from Bukhārā, who is buried in the Baqīʿ cemetery in the blessed city of Madīnah.

Intermediate and advanced education

In 1377 (1958), Mufti Ṣāḥib travelled to Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and studied various disciplines here for the next three years. His teachers here included: Mufti Yaḥyā Ṣāḥib (d. 1417/1996), Mawlānā ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Rāipūrī and the master of inheritance, Mawlānā Waqār Ṣāḥib.

Thereafter, in 1380 (1961), Mufti Ṣāḥib enrolled in Darul Uloom Deoband to complete his studies and successfully graduated in 1382 (1963). Mufti Ṣāḥib was extremely intelligent and hardworking, and as a result attained 1st position in his class. Some of his notable teachers during these two years and the books he studied with them are as follows:

Mawlānā Fakhr al-Dīn Murādābādī (d. 1392/1972) taught him Ṣaḥīh al-Bukhārī.
ʿAllāmah Ibrāhīm Balyāwī (d. 1387/1967) taught him Muqaddimah and Kitāb al-Īmān of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim along with the first volume of Sunan al-Tirmidhī.
Mawlānā Bashīr Aḥmad Khān taught him the rest of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
Mawlānā Fakhr al-Ḥasan Murādābādī (d. 1393/1973) taught him Sunan Abī Dāwūd along with the second volume of Sunan al-Tirmidhī and Kitāb al-ʿIlal.
Mawlānā Muḥammad Ẓuhūr taught him Sunan al-Nasāī.
Mufti Sayyid Mahdī Ḥasan (d. 1396/1976) taught him Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār.
Ḥakīm al-Islām Qārī Muḥammad Ṭayyib (d. 1403/1983) taught him Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik.

In 1382 (1963), Mufti Ṣāḥib enrolled on the Iftāʾ programme under the tutelage of Mufti Sayyid Mahdī Ḥasan Ṣāḥib. Given his abilities, his study period was extended for another year, and he was appointed in the final six months of the second year as Assistant Mufti, which was something unique at the time.

During this period, he also began to memorise the Quran. Mufti Ṣāḥib mentions that Mawlānā Fakhr al-Dīn Murādābādī Ṣāḥib would spend a lot of time on teaching the book of Tafsīr of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and it was then he realised that memorising the Quran is essential to fully understand the Quran.

First teaching post

After successfully graduating as a Mufti with invaluable practice, Mufti Ṣāḥib was appointed as a teacher in the famous seminary of Gujarat, Darul Uloom Ashrafia, Rander. Mufti Ṣāḥib taught here for nine years between 1384 (1965) and 1393 (1973) and his appointment from the outset was to teach the upper classes. Thus, during his time here, he taught the translation of the Quran, the four Sunan ḥadīth books, Jalālayn, Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, the final half of Hidāyah and many other books. During this time, he also began to author some works including his famous book ‘Ḥurmat Muṣāharat’.

Final teaching post

In 1393 (1973), Mufti Ṣāḥib was appointed to teach in Darul Uloom Deoband, which he successfully did for 48 years until his demise. Thousands of students from across the world benefited from him. I met some of his students in Uzbekistan. His students attest that from the very beginning, Mufti Ṣāḥib’s lessons were very popular. Along with his profound knowledge, wit and method of deduction, his ability to simplify difficult concepts and instil them within the minds of the students was second to none. This is also evident from his publications.

As mentioned above, Mufti Ṣāḥib was tasked from very early on to teach the upper classes. Throughout his 48 years at Deoband, Mufti Ṣāḥib taught many books. They include: the 6 famous ḥadīth collections, Muwaṭṭāʾ Mālik, Muwaṭṭāʾ Muḥammad, Mishkāt, Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār, Hidāyah, Sullam al-ʿUlūm, Hadyah Saʿīdiyyah, Mullā Ḥasan, Jalālayn, al-Fawz al-Kabīr, Musallam al-Thubūt, Sharḥ al-Āqāid, Dīwān Mutanabbī, Meybdhī, Tafsīr Bayḍāwī, Nukhbat al-Fikr, Ḥusāmī, Mullā Ḥasan, al-Sabʿ al-Muʿallaqāt, Sirājī, Tafsīr Maẓharī, Muqaddimah Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ and Ḥujjat Allah al-Bāligah.

In 1429 (2008), Mufti Ṣāḥib was appointed as the Shaykh al-Ḥadīth, a role Mufti Ṣāḥib continued to fulfil until his demise. Although the Darul Iftāʾ would consult him on important matters, Mufti Ṣāḥib generally stayed away from Iftāʾ matters and focused on his teaching and publications. There were some brief periods when he was tasked to supervise and manage the Darul Iftāʾ based on need.

Students

Mufti Ṣāḥib has thousands of students across the world. Some of his notable students include:

Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mufti Aḥmad Khānpūrī Ṣāḥib (b. 1365/1946) (India).
Mawlānā Muḥammad Sufyān Qāsmī (b. 1374/1954) (India).
Mufti Shabbīr Aḥmad Qāsmī (India).
Mufti Muḥammad Salmān Manṣūrpūrī (b. 1386/1967) (India).
Mawlānā Sayyid Mahmūd Madani (b. 1383/1964) (India).
Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Shafīq al-Islām Ṣāḥib (Bangladesh).
Mufti Maḥmūd Bārdolī (India).
Shaykh Taha Karaan (South Africa).
Mufti Abdul Mannan (Uzbekistan).

Publications

Along with the thousands of students who studied under him, Mufti Ṣāḥib’s legacy lies in his publications. Mufti Ṣāḥib was a prolific writer in the Urdu language. He authored more than 40 books of various sizes. They include:

Tafsīr Hidāyat al-Qurān – Mawlānā Muḥammad ʿUthmān Kāshif Ilāhī started this Urdu commentary and completed the Tafsīr of Juz 1-9 and 30. Mufti Ṣāḥib completed this and also began to cover the parts authored by Mawlānā Muḥammad ʿUthmān. This was fully completed. The beauty of this tafsīr is that it focuses on conveying the meaning of the text and the actual message of the Quran without branching off into related discussions.
Tuḥfat al-Qārī Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – This is a complete commentary of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, published in 12 volumes. The commentary is consistent from the beginning to end. From the published complete Urdu commentaries on the Ṣaḥīḥ, it is undoubtedly the best. It does not merely regurgitate what is in the earlier commentaries. Mufti Ṣāḥib has his own perspective in many places on the commentary of the ḥadīths and also in some of the chapter headings. The style and some personal anecdotes and stories make it an interesting read. It must be remembered that this, along with the next work, is primarily based on durus (lessons).
Tuḥfat al-Almaʿī Sharḥ Sunan al-Tirmidhī – This is a complete commentary of Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Shamāil and Kitab al-ʿIlal, published in eight volumes. Like the commentary of Sunan al-Bukhārī, this commentary is very popular and students from across the world benefit from it. In the Urdu language, this is the best complete commentary of Sunan al-Tirmidhī to date. Like the previous commentary, it is consistent throughout, unlike many commentaries which focus on the first few chapters or some others which are selective. Naturally, the commentary’s focus is more on the Fiqh and meanings (dirāyat) of the Ḥadīths as is the norm in the sub-continent. The beauty of this commentary is ḥall (solving) of the book with every sentence addressed, which is somewhat similar to the Arabic commentary Tuḥfat al-Ahwadhī.
Raḥmat Allah al-Wāsiʿah – This is a detailed commentary in Urdu of Ḥujjat Allah al-Bālighah, authored by Shāh Walī Allah Muḥaddith Dehlawī (d. 1176/1762). I have benefited a lot from this work. Without it, it is difficult to understand many parts of the book. The Ummah is indebted to Mufti Ṣāḥib for this amazing work and simplifying every line of it. The book is published in five large volumes and is a must for all scholars especially in contemporary times.
Ḥujjat Allah al-Bālighah with Arabic footnotes – This is useful for teachers.
Al-ʿAwn al-Kabīr – This is an Arabic commentary on al-Fawz al-Kabīr.
Sharḥ ʿIlal al-Tirmidhī – This is a short Arabic commentary on Kitāb al-ʿIlal.
Tahdhīb al-Mugnī – This is an Arabic commentary on ʿAllāmah Ṭāhir Pattanī’s (d. 986/1578-9) book on transmitters, ‘al-Mugnī’.
Fayḍ al-Munʿīm – This is an Urdu commentary on the Muqaddimah of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
Tashīl Adillah Kāmilah – This is an Urdu commentary on Shaykh al-Hind Mawlānā Maḥmūd Ḥasan Deobandī’s (d. 1339/1920) renowned book ‘Adillah Kāmilah’ which contains the 10 common issues where the non-Muqallids of India had an objection.
Āp Fatwā keysey dey – This is an Urdu commentary of Sharḥ ʿUqūd Rasm al-Muftī.
Ḥayāt Imam Abū Dāwūd – This features the biography of Imam Abū Dāwūd.
Ḥayāt Imam Ṭaḥāwī – This features the biography of Imam Ṭaḥāwī. I recall our respected teacher Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī (d. 1438/2017) making reference to this book in some of his early writings.
Āsān Naḥw, Āsān Ṣarf, Āsān Manṭiq – These are three separate series which are popular in the curriculum of many seminaries.
Dārī awr Anbiyā kī Sunnatey – A short booklet on the beard and hygiene of the body.
Ḥurmat Muṣāharat – A famous book pertaining to the Maḥram relationship established via lawful or unlawful relationships and touching with lust.
Ḥawāshī Bāqiyāt Fatāwā Rashidiyyah – These are footnotes on this addendum to the Fatwa collection of Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (d. 1323/1905).
Ḥawāshī Imdād al-Fatāwā – These are footnotes on this Fatwa collection of Mawlānā Ashraf ʿAlī Thānawī (d. 1362/1943).
ʿIlmī Khuṭubāt – This is a two-volume collection in Urdu featuring some of Mufti Ṣāḥib’s speeches.
Hādiyah Sharḥ Kāfiyah – This is an Urdu commentary on the famous Grammar book, ‘Kāfiyah’. Mufti Ṣāḥib also has an Arabic work ‘Wāfiyah Sharḥ Kāfiyah’ on the same book.

The wide range of books authored by Mufti Ṣāḥib demonstrate his profound knowledge, intellectual acumen and grasp of the Islamic sciences as well as related sciences such as Grammar and Manṭiq (logic). The first four books mentioned above are probably the most famous books authored by Mufti Ṣāḥib. Today, in India, his commentaries on Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Sunan al-Tirmidhī are the most commonly used form all the Urdu commentaries. All his books share a similar feature in that they are easy to read and difficult concepts are simplified for the reader. May Allah Almighty make all these works Ṣadaqah Jāriyah for him and accept all his efforts.

About The Publisher

Maktabatul Bushra

Al Bushra Welfare & Educational Trust is a non-profitable, multilingual Islamic Publishing House. Their publications include the Holy Quran and its translations, books related to Dars-e-Nizami, and myriad Islamic works. Their publications are not merely confined to English and Urdu, in fact, they have published books written in Arabic, Spanish, German, French etc. All these works highlight different aspects of sacred learning and have been penned by genuine and enlightened Muslim scholars.