Sibawayh and Quranic Readings

Abstract

Grammar was developed in the context of the Quran, with its rules solidified and its branches growing in its shade. This led all grammarians to unanimously agree that citing the Quran and its various readings (both mutawatir and shadh) is fundamentally acceptable. When we browse through 'Al-Kitab,' the epitome of grammatical thought by previous scholars and authored by the foremost grammarian of all time, Sibawayh, we find that he was pioneering in examining the styles of the Quran and citing its readings. Although he mostly based his rules on the widely accepted and authentic readings, in his theoretical grammar, he relied on all readings, including the anomalous ones, considering them as valid practices. He explicitly stated this on multiple occasions.