In this book review I want to present some of the various Shurooh (Explanations of the Scholars) of the Arabic text "al-Aajuroomiyyah" written by al-Imaam Aboo 'Abdillah Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Daawud as-Sanhaajee (rahimahullah) known as Ibn Aajuroom who was born in 672 A.H. and died in 723 A.H. While there are many explanations of this text I will only focus on four that I have in my personal library.
شَرْحُ الآجْرُومِيَّة
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Front cover of Book)
The first Sharh is "Sharh-ul-Ajroomiyyah" given by ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (rahimahullah). This explanation was a live recorded lesson that the Shaykh gave and was transcribed into book form to benefit those who want to study the written text. In various Arabic bookstores in the Muslim world you can find the CD and MP3 version of this Sharh for sale. I saw a Word Document version of it available online but I cannot remember where. If I find the link to it I will post it on my E-Snips page inshaAllah.
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Inside of Book)
The copy I have is a four hundred and thirty eight page hardcover published by Daar-ul-Hareeree. The book begins with an introduction and brief biography of Ibn Aajuroom and Shaykh al-'Uthaymeen as well as the method the transcribers used to compile the book (may Allah reward them). After that the book goes into the Shaykh's explanation.
The Shaykh explains the text in a simple manner and then reviews each section with questions to test how much has been absorbed. Shaykh Uthaymeen's knowledge of Arabic grammar is vast as he explains the most detailed and intricate portions of the text in a manner that very few today can explain. He constantly uses verses of the Quraan and texts of the Ahadeeth as well as Arabic poetry to illustrate each grammar point.
The font in this book is great and makes for easy studying. I also liked the manner in which the book was sectioned after each Baab (Section). It also contains a nice reference page along with an index section.
التُّحْفَةُ السَّنِيَّةُ بِشَرْحِ المُقَدِّمَةِ الآجرُومِيَّة
(Front cover of Book)
The second book is “at-Tuhfah-us-Saneeyah bi-Sharh-il-Muqaddimat-il-Aajuroomiyyah” by the well known Egyptian Scholar of an-Nahw ash-Shaykh al-‘Alaamah Muhammad Muhyee-ud-Deen ‘Abdul-Hameed (rahimahullah). Allah willing I am going to translate a biography of him soon and post it on my main Blog. This is a written explanation of the text that includes Questions and Exercises after every lesson.
You can find the book in hardcover or paperback and is published by various printing companies in the Muslim world. I also have it available on my E-Snips page in an MS Word document.
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Inside of Book)
The author begins his introduction with humility and gratitude to Allah saying after the Basmalah: “All praise is for Allah and He is sufficient over everything and peace be upon His Servants whom He has chosen. This is an explanation to clarify the text, a clear manual, a ripe fruit, small enough to carry, filled with many questions and exercises, I intended to obtain nearness to Allah Most High in facilitating the understanding of the introductory text of al-Aajuroomiyyah for the beginning students of knowledge as it is the gateway into understanding the Arabic language and it was the language of our Sayeed and Mawlaa the Messenger of Allah, peace & blessings of Allah be upon him and upon his family and companions, and it is the language of the Mighty Book. I hope that I am deserving of Allah’s pleasure the Mighty & Majestic as He is the best that I strive for. Our Lord You we trust, to You we repent, to You is the final destination, Our Lord Forgive me and my parents and all of the believing men and women on the day when the reckoning will be established.”
الحُلُلُ الذَّهَبِيَّةُ عَلَى التُّحْفَة السَّنِيَّة
(Front cover of Book)
This precious work is study notes to ash-Shaykh al-‘Alaamah Muhammad Muhyee-ud-Deen ‘Abdul-Hameed’s “at-Tuhfat-us-Saneeyah” written by Muhammad as-Sagheer bin Qaaid Ahmad al-‘Abdalee al-Maqtaree and in which ash-Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahullah) said in the introduction on page eight: “As for the student who becomes strong in the grammar of the Arabic language then the rest of the Islamic sciences will be easy for him with the permission of Allah, so the good deed that was carried out by the brother Muhammad bin Qaaid is a beneficial one, some of its topics have been read to me whereas I found it will benefit the beginner of Arabic and the advanced student of Arabic will find it indispensable.”
(Inside of Book)
This book comes in either hardcover or in a paperback cover. It is published by Daar-ul-Athaar, Sana’a Yemen and is 288 pages. The book begins with an introduction from Shaykh Muqbil and then the author’s two introductions which include the method he used to add notes to the text of “at-Tuhfah”. He also includes a very beneficial summary concerning what the People of Knowledge said concerning the study of Arabic grammar and an-Nahw. The rest of the text is “at-Tuhfah” but with notes to all of the sentences and words found within the book’s Questions and Exercises. There is also a Quran and Subject index for quick reference.
الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّة شَرْح عَلَى مُتَمِّمَةِ الآجرُومِيَّة
(Front cover of Book)
The last book is “al-Kawaakib-ud-Durriyyah” which is an explanation of “Mutammimat-ul-Aajuroomiyyah”. The Mutammimah is an expounded version of al-Aajuroomiyyah written by ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Muhammad ar-Ra’eenee known as al-Hattaab (rahimahullah) whose family was from Morocco and who was born in Makka in 902 A.H. and died in Tripoli in 954 A.H. It contains brief points on the text of al-Aajuroomiyyah with examples of the terminology. I have posted it on my E-Snips page for those interested in studying it.
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Inside of Book)
The Kawaakib is the explanation to al-Hattaab’s text and was written by the Faqih the Muhaddith ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Ahmad bin –Abdil-Baaree al-Ahdal (rahimahullah) who was born in Yemen in the year 1241 A.H. and died in 1298 A.H. He also wrote beneficial notes to Ibn Hishaam’s Qatar-un-Nadaa known as “Haashiyyah ‘alaa al-Qatar fee an-Nahw”. He states the following as the reason for his explanation: “So when I saw the necessity to unravel the complexities of the grammatical points contained in the aforementioned book and its additional notes I busied myself with explaining it so as to benefit the beginner and as something indispensable for the advanced student…so I named it al-Kawaakib-ud-Durriyyah Sharh Mutammimat-il-Aajuroomiyyah.”
This two volume Sharh was published by Daar-ul-Kitaab al-‘Arabee and is condensed into one volume. The type is pretty small but the information is unrelenting. Grammatical point after grammatical point is explained with references to the Quraan, Ahadeeth and Arabic poetry. For those of you who toiled over Madeenah Book Three the Kawaakib is not for the weak at heart. May Allah grant us Tawfeeq in mastering the Arabic language.
Click here to read a brief biography of Ibn Aajuroom (rahimahullah)
Shiekh Ibrahim Ar Ruhaylee (May Allah preserve him) who is a professor at the Islamic University and teacher at the Prophets Masjid in Al Madinah, in this unique and concise piece of advice expounds on some of the obstacles that is facing the Da'wah tus Salafiyah today. He directs his advice to the youth from Ahlus Sunnah and the students of knowledge from them who, in their zealousness and enthusiasm for the religion, have fallen into many mistakes due to their lack of understanding some very intricate matters and important principals of the religion. Issues relating to boycotting, refutations, Tabd'ee (i.e.considering someone to be an innovator), Takfeer (i.e. to consider a Muslim to be a disbeliever), how to deal with those who oppose the Minhaj of Ahlus Sunnah and others. The shiekh brings current examples, all of which, the communities in the west bear witness to. This particular path has turned many people away from following the Minhaj of Ahlus Sunnah and has caused discord and separation in many communities. In conclusion, the shiekh leaves the reader with some precious jewels of encouragement directed towards those who were victims of these mistakes and removes the restricted and negative outlook that many may have about the Minhaj of Ahlus Sunnah and the Da'wah tus Salafiyah based upon the inappropriate actions of a few from amongst them. Many of the well known scholars have praised and thanked the shiekh for this effort and we ask Allah Azza wa Jal to place it in his scales of good on the Day where no wealth or children will be of any avail except those who come to Him with a pure heart.
