Abà « al-Ḥasan Saÿëd ibn Masÿadah al-Akhfash al-Awsaá¹ (Arabic: ãèàçÃÂÃÂóàóùÃÂï èààóùïé çÃÂãîÃÂô çÃÂãÃÂó÷âÂÂ), often shortened to Akhfash al-Awsaá¹ (âÂÂthe middle AkhfashâÂÂ), was an early Arabic grammarian, linguist, and scholar of maÿÃÂnë al-QurþÃÂn (Meanings of the QurþÃÂn). He died approximately in 215 AH (ca. 830 CE).
Akhfash made significant contributions to Arabic grammar, QurþÃÂnic exegesis (especially meanings of the QurþÃÂn), and linguistic theory. Some of his works and areas of study include:
He held opinions on grammatical and morphological matters, some of which are preserved in his works, others through later scholars discussing or transmitting his positions. For example, there is scholarship on âÂÂêùïï çÃÂâñçá çÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂé ÃÂçÃÂõñÃÂÃÂé ÃÂàçÃÂàóãÃÂé çÃÂÃÂçÃÂïé ùÃÂï çÃÂãîÃÂô çÃÂãÃÂó÷â (the multiplicity of grammatical and morphological views in the same issue in the work or attributed to al-Awsat).
He also addressed gender in Arabic (e.g. masculine and feminine), as indicated by the work al-Mudhakkar wa-al-muâÂÂannath lil-Akhfash al-Awsaá¹ based on selections from MaÿÃÂnë al-QurþÃÂn.
Besides Akhfash al-AwsÃÂt (âÂÂthe Middle AkhfashâÂÂ), there are at least two other famous scholars with the name Akhfash, distinguished by their epithets al-Akbar (the Older / Greater) and al-Aá¹£ghar (the Younger / Smaller).