Ibn Malik
Encyclopedia
Ibn Mālik, Abū ʻAbd Allāh Djamāl Al-Dīn Muhammad (c. 600 AH - 672 AH / c. 1204 - 22 February 1274) was an Arab grammarian born in Jaén
, Spain. After leaving Spain for the Near East, he became a Shāfi‘ī, and taught Arabic language and literature in Aleppo
and Hamāt
, before eventually settled in Damascus
, where he began the most productive period of his life. He was a senior master at the Adiliyya Madrasa
. His reputation in Arabic literature was cemented by his al-Khulāsa al-alfiyya (known also as simply Alfiya
), a versification of Arabic grammar, for which at least 43 commentaries have been written.
Jaén, Spain
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, Spain. After leaving Spain for the Near East, he became a Shāfi‘ī, and taught Arabic language and literature in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and Hamāt
Hamat
Hamat is a village in Lebanon. It is located 287 meters atop the historic cape of Theoprosopon. It is home to the historic shrine and monastery of Our Lady of Nourieh. The village is also home to the convent of Saint Elie, which overlooks the valley and the Joze River, or the River of Walnuts...
, before eventually settled in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, where he began the most productive period of his life. He was a senior master at the Adiliyya Madrasa
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
. His reputation in Arabic literature was cemented by his al-Khulāsa al-alfiyya (known also as simply Alfiya
Alfiya
Alfiya is a rhymed book of Arabic grammar written by Ibn Malik in the 13th-century. The long title is al-Khulāsa al-alfiyya. At least 43 commentaries have been written on this work, which was one of two major foundations of a beginner's education in Arab societies until the 20th century...
), a versification of Arabic grammar, for which at least 43 commentaries have been written.