Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad and Quranic Readings

Abstract

Al-Khalil frequently interpreted, analyzed, and grammatically guided Quranic verses. Several verses had different readings that scholars addressed, taking specific positions towards them—some were rejected, while others were accepted. Sibawayh posed several questions related to grammatical issues concerning these readings, and Al-Khalil answered them without objecting to the alternative readings. He respected the readings, and even if he did not adopt some of them, he neither denied nor deemed them incorrect.