Abà « al-MaḥÃÂsin Alë ibn SulaymÃÂn ibn al-Faá¸Âl, known as al-Akhfash al-Aá¹£ghar (çÃÂãîÃÂô çÃÂãõúñ) (âÂÂthe Younger AkhfashâÂÂ) (849-927) was a Grammarian, lexicographer, and scholar of Arabic language. One of his works is al-IkhtiyÃÂrayn (çÃÂçîêÃÂçñÃÂÃÂ), which has been edited and published in a modern edition.
Born in 235 AH (â 849 CE) in Baghdad. Spent periods in Egypt (from 287 to 300 AH) and also traveled to Halab (Aleppo), 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-ýAbbÃÂs Thaýlab, among others. And some of his students/people who transmitted from him: Al-Marzubani, al-MaâÂÂfàand al-Jarërë.
He wrote several works. Among his better-known writings:
He is credited with grammatical opinions and linguistic positionsâÂÂsome 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 (âÂÂḥadhfâÂÂ) of particles, or his views in QurþÃÂnic reading/variant recitations were noted.
Besides Al-Akhfash al-Aá¹£ghar (âÂÂthe Younger AkhfashâÂÂ), there are at least two other famous scholars with the name Akhfash, distinguished by their epithets al-Akbar (âÂÂthe Greater / OldestâÂÂ) and al-AwsÃÂt (âÂÂthe MiddleâÂÂ).