Discovering Sufism within the Arabic Grammar (Nahw): Exploring Imam al-Qushayri’s Nahw al-Qulub

Abstract

This study explores the intersection between Sufism and Arabic grammar by examining Nahw al-Qulub, a lesser-known work atributed to Imam al- Qushayri. While al-Qushayri is widely recognized for his seminal contributions to Sufi thought, particularly through his Risalah al- Qushayriyyah, this work demonstrates how mystical meanings can be embedded within the framework of traditional Arabic grammatical discourse (nahwu). Through a close textual analysis, the study reveals that Nahw al-Qulub reinterprets grammatical concepts with spiritual symbolism, illustrating a unique fusion of linguistic and metaphysical insights. Al-Qushairi covered several grammar issue named Aqsam al- kalam, Asma’ wa Isytiqaqiha, Mawani’ al-Sharaf, al-I’rab wa al-Bina’ and al- Badal, at five chapters in Nahw al-Qulub by which pointed three ideas from, first, makrifah, second Takhalli, Tajalli, Tahalli, and third, adab and akhlak, which is elaborated in sense of Arabic grammar. This research not only highlights the versatility of classical Islamic scholarship but also challenges the rigid boundaries between disciplines in pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. By uncovering Sufi elements in a seemingly technical genre, this paper contributes to broader discussions on the integration of spirituality in linguistic sciences within the Islamic tradition.