Al-Akhfash al-Aṣghar

Abū al-Maḥāsin Alī ibn Sulaymān ibn al-Faḍl, known as al-Akhfash al-Aṣghar was a Grammarian, lexicographer, and scholar of Arabic language. One of his works is al-Ikhtiyārayn, which has been edited and published in a modern edition.

Early life and education

Born in 235 AH in Baghdad. Spent periods in Egypt and also traveled to Halab, before ultimately returning to Baghdad. Lived during the Abbasid period, a period of flourishing of Arabic grammar, linguistic theory, literary criticism, lexicography, etc.
Some of his teachers included Al-Mubarrad and Abu al-ʽAbbās Thaʽlab, among others. And some of his students/people who transmitted from him: Al-Marzubani, al-Ma‘fā and al-Jarīrī.

Works and contributions

He wrote several works. Among his better-known writings:Sharḥ Sībawayh - Explanation / Commentary on Sibawayh

al-Anwāʾ
al-Muhadhab

He is credited with grammatical opinions and linguistic positions—some that align with, and some that differ from, the dominant grammarians of his time. For example, his positions on certain grammatical constructions, on the elision of particles, or his views in Qurʾānic reading/variant recitations were noted.

Other Akhfashs

Besides Al-Akhfash al-Aṣghar, there are at least two other famous scholars with the name Akhfash, distinguished by their epithets al-Akbar and al-Awsāt.