In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him

The Shaykh mentions this point of benefit in his introduction to the explanation of “al-Ajrumiyyah”.

Indeed the science of grammar is a noble science. It is a science in which connects to two important matters:

First: Understanding the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. For much of what is understood, or to understand much from these two texts relies on having knowledge of grammar.

Second: Establishing the tongue upon the Arabic language, which is the language that Allah revealed His Speech in (the Qur’an). Because of that, understanding grammar is a very important affair.

Grammar in the beginning stages is difficult (to comprehend), but it becomes easy in the end. It is like a house that is made out of sugar cane and its door is made out of iron. Meaning, it is hard to enter but once you’re in everything will be made easy for you. This is why it is necessary for mankind to remain diligent in the beginning stages of learning until it becomes easy for them at the end.

And we do not pay heed to the statement of those who say, “grammar is difficult!” This causes the student to think that he will never be able to master grammar, and this is not correct. Rather the student should concentrate on the beginning stages and the rest will become easy.

One of the poets said:

النحو صعب و طويل سلمه

اذا ارتقى فيه الذي لا يفهمه

أراد أن بعربه فيعجمه

“Grammar is difficult and its staircase is long

When the one who does not understand it climbs it.

Intending to learn Arabic by it instead it takes him further away from it.”

This is not correct and we do not agree with this statement. Rather we say, in shaa Allah, grammar is easy, its staircase is short, and its steps are easy to climb for the one who understands it from the beginning.

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله