THE CONCEPT OF 'KALIMA' AND THE METHODOLOGY OF SYNTACTIC ANALYSIS IN CLASSICAL ARABIC LINGUISTICS

Abstract

This article examines the fundamental branches of Arabic linguistics—semantics, morphology, and syntax—and the linguistic nature of the "word" (kalima) as their primary object of study. The study provides a comparative analysis of the definitions of "word" proposed by classical scholars Siraj al-Din al-Sakkaki and Ibn Hisham al-Ansari. Specifically, it explores the semantic layers of terms such as lafz, qawl, and mufrad, as well as phonetic variations in Arabic dialects within the context of the literary language and the Qur'an. A central focus of the research is al-Sakkaki’s innovative methodological approach to syntactic analysis, characterized by his unique terminology: al-Qabil, al-Fa’il, and al-Athar. The author substantiates the interdependent relationship between morphology (Sarf) and syntax (Nahv) based on the perspectives of both classical and contemporary grammatical schools. This article serves as a theoretical and practical resource for researchers of Arabic grammar and Orientalists.