Imam al-Qushayiri's Sufistic Nahwu knowledge

 

Imam al-Qushayiri's Sufistic Nahwu knowledge

Nahwu is an independent discipline. And Sufism is also part of other disciplines. The combination of the two - as has been done by al-Qusyairi - in one container is a new science which we call the science of nahwu Sufi or nahwu of the heart. ~Ibrahim Basyuni & Alimuddin Al-Jundi

It is Abdul Karim bin Hawzan bin Abdul Malik bin Talhah al-Qusyairi al-Syafii. Nisbat al-Qusyairi is a sign that he comes from the Bani Qusyair bin Ka'b clan. While the last designation, al-Syafii, shows that in the madhhab of fiqh, Sheikh Abdul Karim Hawzan is an adherent of the madhhab founded by Imam as-Syafi'i. And in faith, he is an Asya'irah (follower of Abu Hasan al-Ash'ari). At this point, it is very clear that he is a scholar of Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah.

He is a Sufi, commentator and expert in the field of hadith, jurisprudence and jurisprudence. In addition, he is also a writer who is an expert in composing poetry. Born in the month of Rabiul Awwal in the year 347 H and died in the year 465 H in Naisabur. His remains were buried next to his noble teacher and the one who most shaped al-Qusyairi's sufistic tendencies, Sheikh Abu Ali Ad-Diqaq.

As a scholar who has abilities in various disciplines, al-Qushayiri has produced cross-disciplinary works. Among them he wrote: al-mi'raj (commenting on the mikraj of the Prophet), Syarh al-Asma' al-Husna, Tartib as-Suluk, Lathaif al-Isyarat (tafsir), Nasikh al-Hadith wa mansukhihi (knowledge of hadith), and in the field of Sufism the most famous is ar-risalah al-Qusyairiyyah . The last mentioned book for Sufism researchers is one of the most important books and a primary reference.

In addition to the two works of Sufism that have been mentioned above, al-Qusyari also has a work that combines the knowledge of Arabic grammar (Nahwu) with the knowledge of Sufism. He named his work "Nahwu al-Qulub" (jurisprudence of the heart). A glance from the name already explains the content of the book he wrote. Al-Qusyairi wrote the book Nahwu al-Qulub in two versions; shagir (small and simple) and kabir (large and wide). In the simplified version, al-Qushayiri only commented on four main chapters (division of kalam, isim, i'rab wal bina' , and badal chapter) and a number of clauses. While in the rather wide and long version, it comments more deeply and comprehensively and divides it into sixty clauses.

Sufistic Nahwu al-Qusyairi

Nahwu in language is a rule that regulates grammar to be correct in speaking or writing. While al-Qalb means heart. So, Nahwu al-Qalb is a way to be able to pronounce sentences well. In general, nahwu qalb is divided into two:

al-Munada, is an expert in worship.

al-Munajat, is an expert in nature.

In Arabic grammar, there are four signs of changing the end of a sentence (i'rab); rafa', nashab, khafd, and jazm. Likewise in the perspective of Sufi nahwu science, that the heart also has the same four signs.

Rafa ' for a Sufi is the height of a person's himmah to approach and worship only to and because of Him. While nashab is the title or readiness of the body to obey Him. While Khafdz is subjecting oneself and one's heart to Him. And jazm is to purify the heart of a servant from other than Him.

In the next chapter, al-Qusyairi says that in nahwu we know two forms of nouns; ma'rifat and nakirah. In the Sufi nahwu perspective, ma'rifat-nakirah is a picture of the condition of a servant. Sometimes a servant is a famous person, has a high rank in his community and is respected because of his honesty and noble qualities. Sometimes a servant is also a "nakirah", who does not have any good position or influence in his community, even if he only eats and sleeps.

What has been done by Al-Qushayiri which was then continued by Ibnu Ajibah in commenting on the book of al-Jurumiyyah with a Sufistic approach. It is very possible that Ibnu Ajibah was inspired by al-Qushayiri's work considering that Ibnu Ajibah was born long after al-Qushayiri died.

Wallahu A'lam bi as-Shawab