Menelusuri Dalil Nahwu Sebagai Landasan Ilmiah Tata Bahasa Arab

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the implications of dalīl an-naḥwī (nahwu arguments) in the formulation of Arabic grammatical rules. Nahwu arguments refer to the linguistic evidence employed by nuhāt (grammar scholars) in constructing the principles of Arabic syntax. This research is a qualitative literature study employing a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected from various classical and contemporary sources related to uṣūl an-naḥw, followed by an in-depth examination of the nature and function of these arguments. The primary sources of reference include the Qur’an, the Prophetic ḥadīth, and classical Arabic poetry—each possessing high linguistic authority in determining grammatical correctness. Nahwu arguments are categorised into naqlī (textual) arguments, drawn from the Qur’an, ḥadīth, and poetry, and ʿaqlī (rational) arguments, based on logical and contextual reasoning. The findings indicate that classical scholars responded differently to certain nahwu arguments, with some considering them irregular (shādh), while others viewed them as acceptable dialectal variations (iʿrāb lughawī). In contrast, contemporary linguists advocate for a modern linguistic framework, interpreting such phenomena through the lens of dialectal variation and recommending a structuralist approach to better understand these irregularities. This study concludes that nahwu arguments not only serve to justify established rules but also function as a methodological foundation for developing new syntactic formulations. As such, they play a critical role in bridging the gap between the classical grammatical tradition and the evolving demands of modern Arabic linguistics.