Expanding Syntactic Analysis in Sharḥ Al-Mufaṣṣal by Ibn Ya‘īsh: An Applied Study

Abstract

This study examines the expansion of grammatical analogy in Ibn Ya'ish’s Sharh al-Mufassal and investigates its mechanisms, limits, and applications across different grammatical domains. The research is based on the assumption that analogy in Ibn Ya'ish’s work is not merely a formal tool, but an active method for constructing grammatical judgments, interpreting linguistic phenomena, and linking structure with meaning. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, supported by inductive tracing of examples and a critical evaluation of the limits of analogical expansion. The findings show that Ibn Ya'ish broadened analogy through causal explanation, extending rules from one form to its counterpart, and drawing on contextual clues, transmitted usage, and Qur’anic readings. However, this expansion remained disciplined by usage, semantic coherence, and reliable evidence. The study also demonstrates that nominal, verbal, and structural applications in Sharh al-Mufassal reflect a flexible grammatical vision that combines established theoretical principles with interpretive depth, making Ibn Ya'ish’s commentary a central text for understanding the development of grammatical analogy in the Arabic tradition.