At the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, organised by the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language under the theme “Let’s Turn the Page and Read the World,” a thought-provoking session was held discussing the pivotal contributions of Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi to the Arabic language. The session highlighted his authorship of “Kitab al-Ayn,” the first dictionary of the Arabic language, as well as the establishment of the science of prosody, positioning him among the most prominent Arabic language scholars throughout the ages.
Unveiling the Legacy of al-Farahidi
The session, titled “Al-Farahidi and the Tale of the First Arabic Dictionary,” featured esteemed speakers including Dr. Mohamed Othman Al-Khalil, a professor of Arabic Language Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi, Dr. Bilal Al-Arfahli, a professor of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at the same university, and Dr. Khalil Sheikh, Director of Education and Research in Arabic Language at the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language.
The Genesis of “Kitab al-Ayn”
Dr. Khalil Sheikh discussed the inception of the dictionary project, known as “Kitab al-Ayn,” which al-Farahidi aimed to transform from a mere collection of words into a comprehensive lexical structure. He aimed to systematically rationalise the Arabic language, thereby revolutionising its study and application.
A Unique Cultural Contribution
Dr. Bilal Al-Arfahli emphasised that al-Farahidi’s work is a pure product of Arab and Islamic culture, dismissing claims that his methodology was influenced by contemporary cultures. His unique contributions remain unparalleled and reflect an authentic engagement with the linguistic heritage of his time.
The Scientific Approach of al-Farahidi
Discussing the dictionary’s relationship with Arabic computational linguistics, Dr. Mohamed Othman Al-Khalil noted that he and his colleagues developed a graded reading dictionary based on mathematical systems. He pointed out that “Kitab al-Ayn” has been a specialist and distinct work since al-Farahidi’s time in the second Hijri century, making him a pioneering figure in the field due to his scientifically methodical approach in composing the dictionary and founding the science of prosody.
The Depth of the Arabic Language
Dr. Al-Khalil likened al-Farahidi’s achievements to those of Isaac Newton in mathematics, who founded calculus at the age of 26. He underscored how al-Farahidi similarly ventured into unchartered territory in Arabic linguistics, establishing a system grounded in phonetics and classifying his dictionary in an innovative manner. The name “al-Ayn” was carefully chosen, reflecting that this letter represents the deepest articulation in Arabic phonetics. Consequently, “Kitab al-Ayn” has become the foundational reference for all subsequent Arabic dictionaries.