He disputed with al–Akhfash on some issues and confuted him”.

He disputed with al–Akhfash on some issues and confuted him”. Al–Mubarrad says: “Apart from Sibawayh, Abu Uthman was the most learned grammarian of all”.

Abu Uthman wrote a number of books such as Kitab fi al–Qur'an (a book on the Qur’an), Kitab 'Ilal al–Nahw (a book on the problematic cases of grammar), Kitab al–Tafsir (a book on exegesis), Kitab Sibawayh (the book of Sibawayh), Kitab Ma yalhan fih al–'Ammah (a book on popular solecisms), Kitabal–Alif wa al–Lam (a book about ‘ alif ’ and ‘ lam ’ i.e.the definite article) Kitab al–Tasrif (a book on morphology), Kitab al–'Arud (a book on prosody), Kitab al–Qawafi (a book on rhymes) and Kitab al–Dibaj (a book on style).

Ibn al–Nadim, al–Suyuti, al–Hamawi and other scholars have confirmed that he wrote these books. Kashf al–Zunun also mentions al–Mazini’s Kitab al–'Arud .

Section Three: Other Books on Prosody Written by Shi'ah scholars Kitab al–Iqna' fi al–'Arud (a book on prosody) which is written by the most efficient scholar, al–Sahib ibn 'Abbad, who was previously mentioned and Kitab Sina'at al–Shi'r fi al–Arud wa al–Qawafi (a book on prosody and rhymes) written by al–Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Ja’afar ibn Muhammad ibn al–Husayn al–Rafi’i who was known as al–Khali’. Al–Rafi’i died in the fourth century.

In our original book we have presented a detailed biography of him. He was an Imamiyyah Shi'ah. Others are Kitab 'Iyar al–Shi'r (the book on the standard of poetry), Kitab Tahdhib al–Tib' (book on refining the character) and Kitab al–'Arud (a book of prosody), all of which are written by Sharif Muhammad ibn Ahmad al–Tabataba’i al–Isfahani, as stated in Nasamat al–Sahrfi Dhikr Man Tashayya' wa Sha'ar. He was born in 322 A.H.

The author of Ma’ahid al–Tansis praised him and ascribed to him Kitab al–'Arud (a book of prosody), adding: “No one preceded him in that. He is the author of the famous lines on good justification (tabrir) which are as follows: Oh you whose generosity water emulates, While your heart is as hard as stone. Would that my fortune equals what your body, Apportions to your shirt, oh unique one of humanity! Nor is your shabbiness cause for bewilderment, Since by the moon, hangs your tarboosh.