Sawāṭiʿ al-Jumān [The Radiant Pearls] in the Science of Ṣarf (Morphology)

Course Description

Timings:

Weekly Classes | Sundays | 9 a.m. [EST] | 1 Hour Sessions | 20 Weeks

Instructor:

Shaykh Fahd ibn ʿAbd al-Qayyūm ibn al-ʿAlā

Overview:

This is an introductory course (Level 1) to the science of Ṣarf | Taṣrīf [Arabic Morphology]. In this course learners of Arabic will be able to take firm foundational steps towards the technical science of Ṣarf or Morphology. In Arabic linguistics, Morphology deals with the structure of words: how they are formed and the identity and character of their component features, consisting of recognizing stem-based patterns and conjugations in Arabic words, particularly in verb formations.

The students will be instructed through the famous Arabic text known as “Sawāṭiʿ al-Jumān” (The Radiant Pearls), an amazing and unparalleled ode in the science by Muhammad ibn Abd Allāh ibn al-Hājj Ibrāhīm al-Jakanī al-Shanqītī (d. 1262). The Sawāṭiʿ is a primer based on the famous works on the subject: “al-Tashīl” and the “Lāmiyyah,” both by Ibn Mālik (d. 672), and the exceptional notes and researches on the topic by the great Yemeni Morphologist: Bahraq (d. 930).

Objectives:

This course will focus on three areas:

[1] Fundamentals of Arabic Morphology: Covering the introductory concepts and theories in Arabic Morphology, background discussions on the science and application of morphological rules and terminologies to classical texts. These fundamentals will exceptionally assist students engaging in morphological analyses and focusing on verb conjugations and their formation in Arabic, particularly in the Qur’ān.

[2] Text Decipherment and Prosodic Breakdowns: Deciphering the text to facilitate the understanding of students about the different ways of looking at it and reading it, in line with the rules of Arabic prosody, effectively assisting students to learn its accurate diacritization. A unique experience for students of the sacred sciences who wish to commit the text to memory.

[3] Questions and Answers: The instructor will address student-specific questions and queries about the text, the class discussions, and the science of Morphology in general. This will allow the students to have an interactive and thought-provoking learning experience.

Prerequisites:

Ability to read and recognize Arabic words and their basic formations, and a basic understanding of the traditional teaching methodologies applied to study Arabic texts and primers.

Upon Completion:

A verbal and written ijazah to transmit the text will be provided to the students upon completion of the course. The instructor will determine which students are eligible for the authorization.