Alfiyyat Ibn Malik: The Shortest Path to Mastering Arabic Grammar

What Is the Alfiyya?

Ibn Malik's Alfiyya is a rhymed poem in 1,002 verses by Jamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Malik al-Ta'i al-Andalusi (600–672 AH). It compresses the entire science of Arabic grammar (nahw) and morphology (sarf) into memorable rajaz meter.

Why It's Loved

• Compact: an entire grammar in ~1,000 lines.
• Memorizable: the poetic meter locks it into memory.
• Comprehensive: draws from both Basran and Kufan traditions.
• Well-commented: over 100 written commentaries exist.

Famous Opening

The Alfiyya begins:

Qala Muhammadun huwa Ibn Maliki; ahmadu rabbi Allaha khayra maliki

And it defines "word" in a single verse:

Kalamuna lafzun mufidun ka'staqim; wa'smun wa fi'lun thumma harfun al-kalim

Every Arabic student memorizes these first.

The Best Commentaries

1. Sharh Ibn 'Aqil: most accessible for beginners.
2. Awdah al-Masalik by Ibn Hisham: a masterful expansion.
3. Hashiyat al-Sabban 'ala Sharh al-Ashmuni: for advanced students.

Study Plan

1. Month 1: read with Ibn 'Aqil's commentary; no memorization yet.
2. Months 2–4: memorize 10 verses/day, understanding each.
3. Ongoing: apply on real texts, using Seebawayh's i'rab tool to check your work.

Read the full Arabic version: «ألفية ابن مالك»

Keywords: Alfiyyat Ibn Malik, memorizing Arabic grammar, Sharh Ibn Aqil, nahw, Arabic morphology.