Orientalists Opinion on Arabic Grammar before Sibawayh

Abstract

This research seeks to clarify the authenticity of Arabic grammar and highlight the true roots of its emergence, in the face of the opinions put forward by some orientalists who tried to question the independence of this science. These proposals relied on hypotheses linking Arabic grammar to foreign influences, especially Greek, based on inaccurate accounts or interpretations far removed from the historical and cultural context of the Arabs. The research also discusses the stories and legends attributed to the origin of grammar, which led to confusion about the true picture of the development of this science. Scientific accounts became mixed with imagined narratives, which weakens researchers' understanding of the nature of the early efforts that contributed to establishing grammatical rules By analyzing reliable accounts and examining the early stages of codifying Arabic grammar, this research demonstrates that the early formation of this science was based on purely Arab efforts. The claims made by some Orientalists regarding external influences are not supported by credible evidence, but rather rely on superficial comparisons that lack scholarly credibility. Thus, the research affirms that Arabic grammar is an authentic science in its origins and historical trajectory, and that the attribution of foreign influences to it is merely an exaggeration of interpretation, lacking a solid scientific basis.