Abstract
Ibn al-Sarrāǧ’s (d. 316/928) Kitāb al-Uṣūl fī al-naḥw is a seminal text in Arabic grammar, traditionally interpreted as primarily structured by Greek logic through disjunctive divisions (taqāsīm). This thesis challenges this dominant view, arguing that Ibn al-Sarrāǧ’s innovations are more comprehensively understood through his engagement with the broader intellectual context of 3rd/9th-4th/10th century Baghdad. It posits that the work reflects dynamic interactions with contemporary Islamic religious sciences (jurisprudence, legal theory, ḥadīṯ studies) and, significantly, the emerging mathematical science of algorithmics.
Through close textual analysis, this study demonstrates Ibn al-Sarrāǧ’s multifaceted role in establishing grammar’s socio-intellectual autonomy and internal structure; pioneering its epistemological foundations by distinguishing discourse levels and theorising sources, paralleling the development of uṣūl al-fiqh; and, crucially, reorganising grammatical data. A central contribution of this thesis is identifying that this data reorganisation, particularly in the syntax section, relies on algorithmic and combinatorial methods that offer a more compelling explanation than an exclusive focus on taqsīm.
By looking “beyond logic,” this research reveals Ibn al-Sarrāǧ not simply as an adopter of external logical frameworks, but as an innovator drawing on diverse contemporary intellectual tools to consolidate and theorise Arabic grammar, offering a nuanced understanding of his work and the intricate formation of Islamic disciplines.
School
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Arab & Islamic Civilizations Department
Degree Name
MA in Arabic Studies
Graduation Date
Summer 6-18-2025
Submission Date
5-22-2025
First Advisor
Ahmad Khan
Committee Member 1
Zeinab Taha
Committee Member 2
Adam Talib
Extent
133 p.
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
Approval has been obtained for this item
Recommended Citation
APA Citation
Palayret, M. G.
(2025).Beyond Logic: Ibn al-Sarrāǧ’s (d. 316/928) al-Uṣūl fī al-naḥw and the Formation of the Islamic Disciplines [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2504
MLA Citation
Palayret, Matthieu G. S.. Beyond Logic: Ibn al-Sarrāǧ’s (d. 316/928) al-Uṣūl fī al-naḥw and the Formation of the Islamic Disciplines. 2025. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2504