The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad ʾIlayhi and al-ʾisnād

Author(s): Aryeh Levin

Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society , Apr. - Jun., 1981, Vol. 101, No. 2
(Apr. - Jun., 1981), pp. 145-165
Published by: American Oriental Society

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/601756

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 THE GRAMMATICAL TERMS AL-MUSNAD, AL-MUSNAD 'ILA YHI

AND AL-'ISNAD

ARYEH LEVIN

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY, JERUSALEM

In the works of the Arab grammarians we find two essential views of the musnad and the
miusnad 'i/avhi: the ancient view held by Sibawayhi (eighth century) and most likely by al-
Mubarrad (ninth century), and the later view which prevails in the sources beginning with the
tenth century. According to Sibawayhi and al-Mubarrad, both the musnad and the musnad
'i/ai'hi are two indispensable parts of the sentence. Sibawayhi's criterion for the distinction
between the musnad and the musnad Vi/avhi is their sequence in the sentence, and not their
syntactic function: the musnad is the first indispensable part of the sentence, and the musnad
Vi/avhi is the second indispensable part. In the later sources, from the tenth to the fifteenth
centuries, the attitude to the mnunad and the musnad 'i/avhi is completely different from that of
Sibawayhi. In these sources the term musnad denotes the predicate and the term musnad Vi/avhi
denotes the subject of all types of sentences. In these sources the criterion for the distinction
between the two terms is the syntactic function of the musnad and the musnad 'i/a}hi
respectively, while the word order becomes irrelevant. In the same sources, 'asnadahu 'ild occurs
as a technical grammatical expression meaning "to assign a predicate to a subject." The masdar
of 'asnacla 'iha, which is al-'isndd 'i/a or al-'isndd denotes, in these sources, "the assignment of
the predicate to the subject."

I. INTRODUCTION offer an explanation of their original literal meaning. A

IN THE ARAB SOURCES OF THE TENTH CENTURY and
onwards, the term al-musnad denotes the predicate,
and the term al-musnad Di/av hi denotes the subject (see
below IV). These terms also occur in the eighth century
in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab, which is the oldest Arabic
grammatical source known to us, but in this work they
have a different meaning, for Sibawayhi's view of the
musnad and musnad 'i/a 'hi disagrees completely with
that of the later grammarians. Sibawayhi's attitude on
this point has been discussed by several nineteenth
century European scholars, such as Wright, Fleischer,
Jahn and Praetorius. The correct interpretation seems
to be that of Praetorius, who based himself mainly on
later sources which referred to STbawayhi (see below
II).
The tenth century and later sources also introduced
the term 'isnad, which does not occur in the Kitdb.
This term requires renewed attention, as it seems to
have been misinterpreted in the nineteenth century (see
below V).
This paper, which is based on the data found in
sources of the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, will
attempt to define and discuss the terms al-musnad and
al-musnad 'ilayhi, to survey their development and to
new interpretation of the term 'isnad will also be
suggested.
11. AL-AIUSNAD AND AL-MUSNAD 7ILA YHI ACCORDING
TO SIBAWAYHI AND AL-MUBARRAD
2.1 The definition of al-musnad and al-musnad
'i/avhi. According to Sibawayhi and al-Mubarrad,
both musnad and musnad 'i/ayhi are indispensable
parts of the sentence. It follows that it is not possible to
form a sentence without them, and neither of them can
exist without the other. Sibawayhi expresses this notion
at the beginning of his discussion of the musnad and
musnad 'ilayhi:' hadd bdbu al-musnadi wal-musnadi
'ilayhi. wahumd md ld yastagnT wahidun minhumc 'an
al- 'dxari, wald 'ajidu al-mutakallimu minhu buddan.
famin dalika al-ismu al-mubtada'u wal-mabniyyu
calayhi, wahuwa qaw/uka cabdu (a)llahi 'axaka
wahadd 'axiuka. wamitlu dalika qawluka yadhabu
' STbawayhi's main discussion ofthemusnadand themusnad
'ila-Yhi is found in Chapter 3 (STb. I 6, 10-20). For al-
Mubarrad's definition of these terms, which is similar to
Sibawayhi's, see Mubarrad IV 126, 1-11. On al-Mubarrad
(d. 898) see Goldziher 65, 30-66, 4.

145

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 146 Journal of the American Oriental SocietY 101.2 (1981)

zaydun. fala budda lil-fi'li min al-ismi kamd lam akun mubtada'u musnadun wal-mabniyyu 'aalahi musna-
lil-ismi al-'awwali buddun min al-b'xarifi al-ibtidd'i. dun 'ilayhi. "hadd [in the example hadd 'abdu (a)llhi
"This is the chapter dealing with the musnad and the muntaliqan] is a noun which occurs as a mubtada',
musnad 'ilavhi: they cannot exist [in the sentence] one [and which is mentioned]5 in order that the following
without the other, and the speaker cannot avoid using part of the sentence, which is 'abdu (a)l/dhi, will be
them [when uttering a sentence]. One of [the combina- assigned to it as a predicate. It is impossible for this
tions of the musnad and the musnad 'ilayhi is the [i.e., for the sentence h4da 'abdu (a)lldhi muntaliqan]
combination of] the 'ism which occurs as a mubtada', to become a complete sentence, until [the subject hadd]
and its predicate, as in the examples 'abdu (a)lldhi takes ['abdu (a)/ldhi as] its predicate, or until [the
Daxaka (= " 'Abdallah is your brother") and hdda Daxiika predicate 'abdu (a)/lahi] takes [hdda as] its subject,6 as
(="This is your brother"). A similar [combination of a the mubtada' is a musnad [i.e., the first indispensable
musnad and a musnad Dilayhi] is found in the example part of the sentence],7 and the predicate is a miusnad
vadhabu zavdun (="Zayd is going"), as [in this example] 'ilayhi [i.e., the second indispensable part of the sen-
the Dism [zavdun] is indispensable to the verb tence]"7 (STb. I 218, 10-12).
[yadhabu] just as the second Dism in the construction The indispensability of the parts of the sentence
of 'ibtida'3 is indispensable to the first one" (Sib. I 6, forming the musnad and the musnad 'ilav hi is also to
10-13). be inferred from the context of the third case in which
The notion that the musnad and the musnad Dilayhi these two terms occur in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab.8
are indispensable to the existence of the sentence is also It should be noted that the terms mnusnad and
expressed in the following extract, dealing with sen- musnad 'i/a hi used in the above sense resemble the
tences of the type hadd 'abdu (a)lldhi muntaliqan, term 'umda "an indispensable part of the sentence,"9
"Here is 'Abdallah going!" (STb. I 218, 9-10).4 Referring but while 'umda refers to either of the two indis-
to this type of sentence STbawayhi says: fahdda (i)smun pensable parts of the sentence, musnad denotes only
mubtadaDun liyubnd Calavhi ma ba'dahu wahuwa the first and musnad 'ilayvhi only the second indis-
Cabdu (a)lldhi. walam yakun lyakiuna hadd kalaman pensable part (see below 2.3).
hattd vubna calavhi 'aw vubna Cald md qablahu, fal-
5 For the insertion of the words "[and which is mentioned]"
here, cf. Sib. I 239, 8.
' STbawayhi usually calls the predicate of the nominal
6 STbawayhi's meaning here is that combinations of words
sentence al-mabnivy 'ala hi (ala/ahi = 'ala al-mubtada').
such as hadd muntaliqan, or 'abdu (a)llahi muntaliqan, are
The 'ibtidd' in STbawayhi's usage is a syntactic construc-
not complete sentences, for in each of these combinations one
tion in which a noun occurring at the beginning of the
indispensable part is missing. Jahn's translation of the sen-
sentence as a subject takes a predicate. In this case Sibawayhi
tence walam yakun liyakana hiida kaldman, etc., based as it is
calls the subject al-mubtada' and the predicate al-mabnivi'
on a misinterpretation of the word hadd, is thus mistaken
alavhi. Both the subject and predicate are indispensable to1/2 324, 20-24).
(see Jahn
the construction of the 'ibtidd' (see Sib. 1 239, 3-5, 6, 10-14;
7 For the meaning of musnad and musnad 'i/aqhi, as
346, 16-347, 3). As the Arab grammarians hold that the
translated here, see below 2.3. 1 disagree with Jahn's transla-
nominal sentence is a sentence beginning with thetion subject,
of the words fal-mubtada'u musnadun wal-mahnivi'u
which may be either a noun or a pronoun (see Wright II 252,
Calavhi musnadun 'ilavhi. He is further in error in his
2-1 1), we may say that the construction of the argument
nominalconnecting this phrase with the sentence following
sentence is the same as the construction of the 'ibtidj'. it (see Sib. I 218, 12-13), which in fact forms the beginning of a
Further, the 'ibtidl', i.e., the fact that a noun occurs at the new point, in its turn misunderstood by Jahn (see Jahn I/ 1
beginning of the sentence and is therefore grammatically 324, 24-27).
unaffected by another word, together with the fact that it 8 See Sib. I 239, 3-5. See especially in this context the words
takes a predicate, is considered by STbawayhi as the cJmil fal-ibtidJ'u la i'aki7nu 'illd bimabnip vin cala/hi, "[a noun
which grammatically affects the mubtadac in such a way that cannot occur in the position of] 'ibtida' without a predicate"
it takes the nominative case (see, for example, Sib. 222, 18-19; (Sib. I 239, 4). Another possible translation is: "[the construc-
241, 18-20; 207, 18-20). Note that al-'ibtidd' is also used in the tion of] 'ibtidcd cannot exist without a predicate [of the
sense of al-mubtada" (see, e.g., Sib. I 239, 9-12; Mubarrad IV subject]." It should be noted that the term musnad occurs
126, 4; 6). again in the Kitab (Sib. II 61, 4).
4 For the discussion of this type of sentence see Sib. 1 218, 9 For the meaning of cumda see 'Ibn cAqil 143, 14; Wright II
6-19. 250, 17-18; Reckendorf 1, 13-14.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad Dllayhi and Al-Isnad 147

2.2 The various combinations of a musnad and a sentence which are considered a musnad and a musnad

musnad 'ilajhi. This combination is found in the 'ila vhi corresponds to the relation between a subject
following cases: and a predicate in a nominal sentence.'4 These parts
(1) In a nominal sentence, such a combination is are considered a musnad and a musnad 'i/alahi because,
formed by the subject and predicate, as in the example like the subject and predicate of a nominal sentence,
Cabdu (a)lldhi 'axi7ka "cAbdallah is your brother" they are indispensable to the structure of the sentence,
(Sib. I 6, 10).10 and neither of them can exist without the other.'5
(2) In a sentence beginning with a verb, a combina- It seems that Sibawayhi's view on this point is
tion of a musnad and a musnad 'ilavhi is formed by the similar to that of al-Mubarrad, although he does not
verbal predicate and the subject, as in the example express it explicitly. He mentions sentences beginning
Yadhabu zavdun, "Zayd is going" (Sib. I 6, 12).11with Uana and lavwa in his main discussion of the
(3) According to al-Mubarrad and al-STrafi a com- musnad and the musnad 'ilav hi, saying: vvarnimnwt
bination of a musnad and a musnad 'i/avhi is formed Yakiunu bimanzilati al-ihtidd'i qawvluka kdna cabdu
by: (a) the 'ism and xabar of kana waDaxawtuhd;12 (a)ll/hi muntaliqan walav ta :avdan mnuntaliqun,
(b) the Dism and xabar of 'inna wa'axawdtuhd;12 (c) the li'anna hadd vahtdju /ild ma ha'dahu ka-(i)htilv~i al-
two direct objects of doubly transitive verbs which mubtada'i 'ilh ma ha'dahu, "Among the cases which
belong to the category known later as 'af cal al- are similar to the 'ibtidd',6 are examples like klina
quluib. 12, 1 3 cabdu (a)/llhi muntaliqan (= "Abdallah was going")
It should be noted that in sentences beginning with and Ialta zaydan muntaliqun (= "1 wish Zayd were
kdna wa'axawdtuh Ainna wa'axawdtuhd and Daf Cal al- going"), because this [i.e. the subject of the above
quluh, the relation between the two parts of the mentioned examples] needs the part which follows it in
the same way that the mubtada' [in a nominal sen-
tence] needs the part which follows it" (Sib. I 6,
10 See STb. I 6, 10-12; 218, 12; 239, 3-5; Mubarrad IV 126, 13-14). 17 The words wamimmi yakuinu bimanzilati al-
1-4. In these passages Sibawayhi calls the subject al-mubtadaD ibtida'i may be interpreted in this context'8 as "among
and the predicate al-mabnivvj 'alaMhi. Al-Mubarrad uses "al- the cases which are similar to the "ibtidd' [from the
'ibtida' waxabaruhu," "the subject and its predicate" (Mu-
point of view of being a musnad and mtunad Di/aYIN],"
barrad IV 126, 4). i.e., from the point of view of being the two indis-
" STb. I 6, 10-14; Mubarrad IV 126, 1-4. pensable parts of the sentence. This interpretation is
12 See Mubarrad IV 126, 1-4. For al-STrdfi's view see Jahn supported by Sibawayhi's definition of the musnad and
1/3 15, 26-28; Jahn 1/2, note 2 to Chapter 3 on pp. 21-22. musnad 'ila hi as two parts of the sentence, which
Note that according to the Arab grammarians, the underlying cannot exist one without the other (= wahunid sia lId
and primary structure of sentences beginning with kana
YastagnT wdhidun minhumd cani al-'dxari. He ex-
wa'axawdtuhd, 'inna wa'axawdtuhj and 'qf'Cl al-qulhb. is presses the same notion with respect to the Disrn and
that of a nominal sentence composed of a mubtada" and a xabar of kdna and lasta, as compared with the subject
xabar, to which these verbs and particles are preposed (see and predicate of the nominal sentence, saying li'anna
Levin 2.5). Al-Zamaxsari says, for example, referring to al-
haddd vahtdju /ild mna ba'dahu ka-(i htii-Xji al-
'qf'al al-ndqisa (= kna wa'axawdtuhd) vadxulna duxu-la mnubtada'i 'ila rma hacdahu. If this interpretation is
aqfCdali al-quhibi 'ala al-mubtada 'i wal-xabari, "[al- :qf'al al-correct, it would appear that Sibawayhi thinks that in
naqisa] are preposed to the mubtada' and the xabar in the sentences beginning with kUna and lavta [and their
[same] way that af 'a/ al-quhib are preposed to them." (See
ZamaxsarT 119, 1-3). Hence it is clear that when al-Mubarrad
says that a combination of a musnad and a musnad 'ilahi is 14 See Levin 2.5; 2.6.
formed by mdaladxulu calachi nahwu kana wa inna w a Dqf 'al/ See al-Sirdff's view on this point as quoted by Jahn 1/3 15,
al- ilmi wal-sakki (see Mubarrad IV 126, 1-5) he means that 27-28, and Jahn 1/2, note 2 to Chapter 3 on pp. 21-22. Jahn
such a combination is formed by the mubtada' (= 'ism) and also refers to this point (see Jahn I/3 15, 25-28).
the xabar to which [verbs and particles] such as kdna, inna 16 For the meaning of 'ihtidad see above, footnote 3.
and aqf'al al-'ilm wal-sakk (= Daqf'al al-qulab] are preposed. " 17 This passage is misinterpreted by Mosel (see Mosel 222, 1-
13 Mubarrad IV 126, 1-5. Al-Mubarrad here calls these verbs 31), as is shown elsewhere in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab (see, for
'af'dl al-sakk wal-'il/n (see Mubarrad IV 126, 5). They are example, Sib. 1 346, 16-19, quoted and translated in Levin,
also known as 'qf c/ al-jyaqzn wal-?akk (see Wright II 48, 21-
198-199; Sib. I 336, 19-337, 1.
22). For this category of verbs see Wright II pp. 47-52. 18 See Sib. I 6, 10-14.

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 148 Journal of the American Oriental SocietY 101.2 (1981)

'"sisters"']9 the 'ism and the xabar form a combination in a verbal sentence25 the verbal predicate is the
of a musnad and a musnad 'ilayhi. It is also possible musnad and the subject is the musnad Dilayhi. Al-
that STbawayhi believes that such a combination is though Praetorius does not refer to them, the following
formed by the two direct objects of doubly transitive points in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab confirm his interpre-
verbs like hasibtu, "I thought," which are known later tation:
as Daf'dl al-qulab.20 (1) Sibawayhi says explicitly that in a nominal
(4) According to al-Mubarrad, a combination of a sentence the subject is the musnad and the predicate is
musnad and a musnad 'ilavhi is found in each of the the musnad 'ilavhi.26 According to this, in the example
protasis and apodosis of a conditional sentence.2' cabdu (a)lldhi caxaka, "cAbdallah is your brother"
(Sib. I 6, 11), which occurs in Sibawayhi's main
discussion of the musnad and the musnad 'ilayhi, the
2.3 The distinction between the musnad and the subject cabdu (a)lldhi is the musnad and the predicate
musnad 'ilavhi. We have seen that Sibawayhi and al- Caxaka is the musnad 'ilavhi.
Mubarrad state quite clearly that the musnad and the (2) Although Sibawayhi does not say so explicitly, it
mnusnad Dilayhi are the two indispensable parts of the is possible to infer from his main discussion of the
sentence (see above 2.2). It is however a much more musnad and the musnad 'ilathi that in a sentence
complicated process to decide which part is the musnad beginning with a verb, the verbal predicate which is the
and which the musnad Dilavhi. The solution to this first indispensable part is the musnad, and the subject,
problem is to be found in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab, al- which is the second indispensable part, is the musnad
though he does not say anything about it in his main 'ilavhi: Srbawayhi says that in a verbal sentence such
discussion of the musnad and musnad Dilavhi.22 The as vadhabu zavdun, "Zayd is going" (Sib. 1 6, 12) there
data in Sibawayhi confirm Praetorius' view (which is is a combination of a musnad and a musnad 'ilaphi
based mainly on other sources) that in Sibawayhi's which resembles the combination found in a nominal
terminology the musnad is the first indispensable part sentence like 'abdu (a)llihi 'axiika, "'Abdallah is your
of the sentence, and the musnad 'ilayhi the second brother" (Sib. 1 6, 1 1).27 Then Sibawayhi adds: fald
indispensable part.23 Hence, in a nominal sentence24 budda lil-fi'li min al-ismi kamd lam yakun lil-ismi al-
the subject (al-mubtada') is the musnad and the predi- 'awwali buddun min al- Ddxarifli al-ibtidd'i. "The verb
cate (al-mabnivv 'alavhi) is the musnad Dilaihi. while [in the example Yadhabu zaydun] needs the Dism [i.e.,
the subject zayd], [in order to form a complete sen-
'9 kdna and lanta, which occur in the examples given in tence]28
Sib. just as the first Dism [i.e. the mubtadaD] needs
I 6, 13-14, seem to represent their "sisters" as well (cf. Sib.
theI second Dism [i.e., the predicate] in a nominal
336, 19-337, 1).
sentence [as zaydun Daxika]29 (Sib. I 6, 12-13). As
20 This assumption is based on Sib. I 336, 19-337, 2. Sibawayhi says here that the verbal predicate needs its
21 See Mubarrad IV 126, 1-5. This is the only possible
subject just as the subject of the nominal sentence
interpretation of al-Mubarrad's statement that a combination
needs its predicate, it is clear that he believes that the
of a musnad and musnad 'ilavhi is to be found in al-mu/&z verbal
t. predicate corresponds to the subject of the
The terms al-jazd' and a/-muyjzdt, which according to
Reckendorf denote the apodosis of a conditional sentence (see
Reckendorf 483, 22-23) also denote a full conditional sen-25 The term "verbal sentence" is here used in the sense of the
tence, i.e., protasis + apodosis, as seen from the numerous
Arabic grammatical term jumla fi'lijya, "a sentence begin-
occurrences of al-jazd' in Chapter 245 of Sibawayhi's al-Kitab
ning with a verb."
(Sib. I 384, 7-389, 5), where we also find al-mu/-zat used in
26 STbawayhi says: fal-mubtada'u musnadun wal-mabniyyu
this sense (Sib. I 386, 16). Calayhi musnadun 'ilayhi (Sib. I 218, 12). The excerpt in
22 See Sib. I Chapter 3 (Sib. 1 6, 10-20). Al-Mubarrad also which these words occur is quoted and translated on II, 2.1,
does not say anything about this point in his discussion of the above.
musnad and the musnad 'ilayhi (see Mubarrad IV 126-135). 27 STb. I 6, 10-12.
This is the only place in the Kitab al-Muqtadab where these 28 Cf. Sib. I 5, 9-10: 'ala tard 'anna al-ficla Id budda lahu
terms are discussed by al-Mubarrad. min al-ismi wa'illd lam yakun kaldman. "Don't you see that
23 See Praetorius 710, 13-711, 28. the verb needs the 'ism [as a predicate] and if it does not [take
24 The term "nominal sentence" is here used in the sense of the 'ism as a predicate] no sentence exists." I am grateful to
the Arabic grammatical term Jumla 'ismiyya, "a sentence Professor H. Blanc who drew my attention to the text quoted
beginning with a noun." here.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad '11ayhi and Al-'1snad 149

nominal sentence, and the subject of the verbal sen-
tence corresponds to the predicate of the nominal
sentence. As we have already seen that in a nominal
sentence the subject (= mubtada') is the musnad and
the predicate is the musnad 'ilayhi, we conclude that in
Jahn, the first part of the sentence is called musnad.36
a verbal sentence the verbal predicate which corre-
sponds to the subject of the nominal sentence, is the
musnad and the subject, which corresponds to the
predicate of the nominal sentence is the musnad
'ilayhi. 30 We see then that the data found in
the Kitab support Praetorius' argument that according
to SIbawayhi the musnad is the first indispensable part
of the sentence, and the musnad 'ilayhi is the second
indispensable part.
The view that the predicate of the verbal sentence
corresponds to the subject of the nominal sentence as a
which says explicitly that in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab al-
musnad denotes the first part of the sentence, and al-
musnad 'ilayhi the second part. 34
(2) According to al-Sirdfi (d. 979),35 as quoted by
(3) 'AbU Hayyan al-GarndtT (d. 1344),3 who dis-
cusses the various views held on the musnad and the
musnad 'ilayhi,38 also refers to the opinion that the
musnad is the first part of the sentence and the musnad
'ilayhi is the second part, but he does not name the
grammarians who hold this view.39
2.4 The literal meaning of the terms musnad and
musnad 'ila yhi in STbawayhi's al-Kitdb. The literal
meaning of musnad and musnad 'ilayhi (not as tech-
nical terms) is ambiguous, as each has two opposing

musnad, and that the subject of the verbal sentence

meanings: (1) "A thing upon which something leans";

corresponds to the predicate of the nominal sentence as (2) "A thing which leans upon something else."40 These

a musnad 'ilayhi, seems to be based on two points: contradictory senses raise some difficulties concerning

(1) Similarity in position: both the predicate of the the interpretation of the literal meaning of the two
terms.
verbal sentence and the mubtada' occur as the first
indispensable part of the sentence, while the subject of
the verbal sentence and the predicate of the nominal 34 See Praetorius 710, 29-33. This excerpt occurs in Lisan III
sentence are the second indispensable part. Sibawayhi 223A, 27-223B, 5 (= Lisdn, Cairo IV 208, 7-10), and is quoted
is no doubt aware of this similarity in position, as he and translated below in 2.4.
says elsewhere that in a sentence of the type yaqfilu 'S On al-STrdfl, Sibawayhi's most important commentator,
zaydun dd, "Zayd says this" (Sib. I 364, 2) the verb see Blanc 1268, 23-25.
yaqalu occurs in the position of the mubtada' (=f! 36 See Jahn 1/2 21, note 1 to Chapter 3. Jahn here suggests
mawdici al-mubtada'i ).31 the reading musnad ['ilavhi] instead of musnad, but
(2) The predicate of the verbal sentence corresponds Praetorius is correct in rejecting this suggestion (see Praetorius
to the mubtada' as the part which needs a complement 711, 3-13).
to form a complete sentence, while the subject of the 37 See Blanc 1271, 14-15.
verbal sentence corresponds to the predicate of the 3 'AbU Hayydn 4, 11-16.
nominal sentence as the part which forms this comple- 39 'Abii Hayydn 4, 11-12. Note that when 'AbU Hayyan and
ment.32 the other two sources mentioned above refer to the musnad
Praetorius' view of the meaning of al-musnad and al- and the musnad 'ilayhi as the first and second part of the
musnad 'ilayhi in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab, is supported sentence respectively, they mean to say that the musnad is the
by some later sources:
first indispensable part and the musnad 'ilayhi is the second
(1) Praetorius quotes an extract from the Lisan,3indispensable part.
40 musnad, as a synonymn of sanad, means "a thing against,
29 See Sib. I 6, 10-14. or upon which one leans, rests or stays himself' (Lane IV 1443
30 It is to be noted that Mosel is right in saying that in theB, s.v. sanadun), but it also has the opposite sense as a passive
sentence yadhabu zaydun, yadhabu is the musnad and zaydun participle of 'asnada [al-?ay'a] 'ila, in the sense of "to lean
is the musnad 'ilayhi (see Mosel 222, 15-31), although her something against or upon" (see Lane 'asnadtuhu 'ila al-
other conclusions there are wrong (see footnote 17 above). ?ay'i, "I made him, or it, to lean, rest, or stay himself or itself
31 See Sib. I 364, 1-2. See also Sib. 363, 15-16; 364, 5-7. 'Ibn against, or upon the thing" (Lane IV 1443 A, No. 4). musnad
Ya'T? also refers to this point using the word mawqi' instead 'ilayhi is the passive participle form of 'asnada 'ilj. If the
of mawd& (see 'Ibn Yaci? II 922, 1-6). word musnad in this expression is understood as an imper-
32 This point is clear from Sib. I 6, 10-13 (quoted and sonal passive, the sense of musnad 'ilayhi is "a thing upon
translated above in 2.1). which something leans" (Praetorius 711, 14-16), but if it is
33 'Ibn ManzUr, the author of the Lisdn, died in 1311understood
or as a personal passive it means "a thing which
1312 (see El2 III 864 B, 15-16). leans upon something else" (cf. Praetorius 711, 23-25).

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 150 Journal of the American Oriental Societv 101.2 (1981)

From the data in Arab sources referring to doctrine of the Kitab is based on the views of al-Xal1,45
Sibawayhi's view of the musnad and 1n7usnad Di/a vhi, whom Sibawayhi considered to be the highest author-
we may draw the conclusion with Praetorius that to ity, we may assume that STbawayhi's view on this
STbawayhi the term inusnad must be interpreted liter- fundamental point does not differ from that of his
ally as "that [part of the sentence] upon which [the teacher. Hence, the sense of musnad in the Kitab seems
Musnad Dilalvhi] leans,"41 and the term Musnad 'ilavhi to be the equivalent of sanad, "support," i.e., "the part
as "that [part of the sentence] which leans upon it [i.e., of the sentence on which the musnad 'ilavhi leans."
upon the inusnad]. ,42 (2) In the following extract from the Lisan, dealing
Fleischer reverses this statement, holding that ac- with STbawayhi's terms al-musnad and al-musnad
cording to Sibawayhi the niusnad 'ilalvhi is that part of 'ilavhi, we find the view that al-musnad 'ilavhi leans
the sentence upon which the 177usna(I leans3.4 The upon the musnad:46 waqaw/u Sihawvai'hi hadd hdhu al-
following points argue against Fleischer's interpreta- musnadi wal-musnadi 'ilaihi: al-niusnadu huwa al-
tion and support Praetorius: juzu' al- 'awwau min al-/junlati, wal-mnusnadu 'ilai hi
(I) According to the Lisan, al-Xalfl, Sibawayhi's al-juz'u al-tanT Minhd, wal-ha' min 'ilaihita'adu Cala
teacher, used the term sanad instead of niusnad. As al-lam? ft al-musnadi al-'awwali, wa/-la-7 fT qawlihi
the sense of sanad is "support" or "a thing against, or "wal-musnadi 'ilav hi" wahuwta al-juzu 'al-tanT, i ac 7du
upon which one leans, rests or stays himself" (see 'aah Xalnurun rarfu'cn fT nafsi al-musnadi,
footnote 40), it is clear, following al-XalTl's view, that /i'annahu 'uq-ina mnuqama al-fdcili, fa'in 'akkadta
saniad is that part of the sentence upon which the ddlika al-danffra qulta: hadd hahu al-mu snadi wal-
musnad Dilauvhi leans. As much of the grammatical mu.snadi huwa 'ila hi. "[The meaning of] Sfbawayhi's
words: hadd hahu al-musnadi wal-musnadi 'ilaihi is
[as follows]: al-musnad is the first part of the sentence,
4 'Praetorius gives the meaning of al-musnad as "das worauf and al-musnad 'ilaivhi is the second part47 of it. The
man sich stdzt" (Praetorius 711, 14-16). See also Praetorius [pronominal suffix] ha', occurring in the word 'ilavhi
71 1, 14-23.
refers to the lam [which is equivalent to alladT 48 and]
42 Praetorius gives the meaning of al-musnad 'ilalvhi as "das
was auf ihn (den ersten Satzteil) gestUzt ist" (Praetorius 711,
23-25).
the word ra/ulun itself does not offer any new information to
4 See Fleischer 11 88, 14-89, 3. Fleischer thinks that in the hearer, who knows 'Abdallah, as it is clear to him that
Sibawayhi's usage the word musnad, which forms part of the 'Abdallah is a man, and not a woman (although one may argue
term musnad 'i/avhi is an impersonal passive (see Fleischer 11 that someone who does not know 'Abdallah, learns from the
88, 29-31).
word rajulun that 'Abdallah is an adult and not a child). Cf.
44 We find the following excerpt in the Lisan: qd/a al-xa-il:'Ibn Sarraj 1 73, 4-6 who says that in utterings like al-ndru
al-kaldmu sanadun w'amusnadun (sic!), fal-sanadu kaqawlikahdrratun, "The fire is hot," and al-ta/ju hdridun, "The snow
Cah(lu (a)lldhi rajulun sdlihun, fa'aladu (a)ll/hi sanadun,is cold," there is no new information (la fidaidata fThi).
warajulun .sdlihun musnadun 'ilalhi. "Al-XallI said: the sen-
Cf. also Sibawayhi who says that it is impossible to say kana
tence is [composed of a] sanad and a musnad. In the example rqjulun dahihan, as there is no new information in these
ahdu (a)lldhi rajulun sdlihun (= 'Abdallah is a pious man")words: it is known to everybody that sometime in the past a
1-ahclu (a)ll/hi is the sanad and rajulun sdlihun is the musnad
man was walking (see Sib. 1 20, 13-16).
'ilayhi" (Lisdn III 223 B, 5-7). Almost the same words occur 45 Blanc says: "Much of the grammatical doctrine of the
in the Taj al-'ArUs (eighteenth century; see footnote 98
Kitab, where he is often quoted at length, rests upon the views
below), except that instead of al-kaldmu sanadun warnus-of al-Xalil ibn Ahmad al-FarahidT (d. 791)" (Blanc 1268, 30-
nadun the Tdj gives al-kal/dnu sanadun wamusnadun 'ilahi.
31). See also Blanc 1268, footnote 4.
The Taj further comments: wagav ruhu X aqui/ muusnadun46 This extract is quoted, but not translated, by Praetorius
wamusnadlun 'ilalhi, "Other people use [the terms] musnad (see Praetorius 710, 29-33), who uses the old edition of the
and musnad 'ilal hi (see Taj 11 384, 3-4). This formulation is
Lisan (Lisan, Cairo IV 208, 7-10). In the new edition it
not found in the Lisan.
appears at Lisan III 223 A, 27-223 B, 5.
The fact that al-Xalil says that the musnad 'ila 'hi in this 47 The intention of the words al-/uz'u al-/awwalu min al-
example is rajulun sdlihun, and not ra/ulun alone, creates jumlati seems quite clearly to be "the first indispensable part
some difficulty, but it seems likely that he thinks that salihun of the sentence," and of a/-juz'u al-tUnY minhd, "the second
in this case is indispensable to the existence of the sentence, as indispensable part of it."
in the sentence 'ahclu (a)lldhi rajulun, "'Abdallah is a man," 48 According to Ibn Ya'T9, the /am (= the definite article),

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad 'Ilayhi anrd Al-lIsnad 151

which is preposed to the first al-musnad.49 To the 1dnm 111. THE VIEW THAT THE M!LISNA1) -ILA YHI IS THE FIRST

[which is equivalent to alladT, and] which occurs in INDISPENSABLE PART OF THE SENTENCE. AND THE MUS-

STbawayhi's expression al-musnad 'i/av hi ([an expres- NAD IS THE SECOND INDISPENSABLE PART

sion] denoting the second part of the sentence), refers a

Al-Slrafi and 'Abi Hayyan, who mention the vari-
pronoun [of the third person sing. masc.] in the
nominative, [which is implied]50 in the same al- ous views of the musnad and musnad i/a' hii5, say that
according to one of these al-musnad "ilalvhi is the first
musnad, as this pronoun supplies the place of the
part of the sentence and al-musnad is the second part)6
agent.' If you want to use a [free pronoun] as a
Neither al-STrdf- (as quoted by Jahn) nor 'Abu Hayyan
ta'tkT53 of this [implied pronoun], you say: hada haTu
name the grammarians who held this view, and no
al-musnadi wal-mnusnadi huw a54 'ilavhi (= "This is the
other details about it are known to me.
chapter dealing with the musnal, and with [that part of
the sentence] which leans upon it (i.e., upon the IV. .IL-MUSNAD AND Al-&lMlU1SNVAI) -h I-A YHJ IN THE LATER
musnad ). "
SOU RCES

when preposed to an active or passive participle is considered 4.1 The meaning of al-musnad and al-mu snad
a relative pronoun equivalent to alladJ, e.g., hadd al-ddribu 3ilaivhi according to the later sources. In the lat
zal dlan - [ha-d] alladY claraha wav dan, "This is the one who hitsources, beginning with the tenth century, we find a
new concept of the terms musnad and musnad 'i/av hi,
Zayd" ( Ibn Ya'YI 1 460, 5-6), and hajd al-madru7hu = [hddd]
fundamentally differing from that of STbawayhi. In
alladys duriha or vudlrahu. "This is the one who was hit," or
"will be hit" (' Ibn Ya1il I 460, 6). (See Ibn Yacis 1459, 24- these sources al-musnad Di/a} hi denotes the subject and
460, 13). As the word musnadl has the form of a passive al-musnad the predicate of both nominal and verbal
participle, the 1am preposed to it is considered by 'Ibn sentences. In contrast to STbawayhi, the distinction
Manztir a relative pronoun like alladT. Note that the word al-between the musnad and the musnad 'ilavhi is based
musnad. which designates the first indispensable part of the on a functional criterion, while the word order becomes
sentence, seems to be synchronically a noun synonymous with irrelevant to this distinction. These points can be
sanal, "support" (see above footnotes 40 and 44), and can be explicitly seen in the following extracts:
considered a passive participle diachronically only, while al- (I) Al-Sirdfi, discussing the various views of the
musntadl in the term al-musnad 'i/alhi is synchronically also a musnad and musnad 'ilavMhi,5" says that he prefers the
passive participle. view that al-musnad 'i/al hi is the subject and al-
49 I.e., al-nmusnad which occurs in the text after the word hab.
musnad the predicate: Dalwaduha wa 'arddhd 'an
'O The definite article (= al-la/d) + the following active or
vakikina al-musnadu ma'na-hu al-haditu wal-xabaru,
passive participle as in the examples hdda al-ddribu and hddd wal-musnadu 'ilavhi al-muhaddatu canhu. waddlika
al-inadrdhu (see above footnote 48) is considered to be a Cala wajhayni:fd'ilun waficlun, wa(i)smun waxabarun.
relative sentence (see DIbn YacTY I 460, 4-9. See also
Zamaxsari 57, 4-6; AIbn Ya'cT 1 467, 16-23 with respect to the
definite article + active participle). An implied pronoun in the which is in this case called tamkhI (see footnote 53
huwa,
nominative third person singular masculine is expressed in the above), e.g., zaVdun qdmna huwa, "Zayd got up" (Zamaxsari
active and passive participle occurring in relative sentences of 45, 14) (see the references mentioned in footnote 53 above).
this type. This implied pronoun refers to the 1dM, which is Similarly, according to the Lisdn, huwa can occur as a tacked
considered as a relative pronoun equivalent to alladY ('Ibn of the implied pronoun expressed in the word al-musnad,
YacTs I 468, 16-23). Hence, it is here said that the passive which occurs as part of the term al-musnad 'ila}vhi. The
participle form al-musnad, which forms a part of the term implied pronoun is considered in this case as qd'iM maqdM
al-musnad 'ila/Xhi, implies a pronoun in the nominative, al-fd'il, "supplying the place of the agent" (see footnote 52
referring to the 1NM. above), as the passive participle is part of the passive conjuga-
' I.e., in the word al-musnad which forms part of the term tion of the verb.
al-nuisnacl 'ila} hi. 5 See Jahn 1/3 14, 18-15. end; 'AbO Hayyan 4, 11-16.
52 The term qdDim maqam al fdCil is translated by Wright as 56 See Jahn 1/3 15, 5-8; DAbO Hayyan 4, 12-13. Note that
"supplying the place of the agent" (Wright II 269, 26-27). when these sources speak about "the first part" and the
5 For the meaning of ta'kd here see Zamaxsari 45, 11-15; 'second part" of the sentence, this has to be understood as
Ibn Ya"T9 I 362, 1-20; Wright II 265, 11-22. meaning the first and second indispensable parts of the
54 An implied pronoun in the nominative third personsentence.
singular masculine can be emphasized by the free pronoun 57See Jahn 1/3 14, 18-15, end.

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 152 Journal of the American Oriental Societi 101.2 (1981)

falfi Clu hadTtun 'an al/fdCili, wal-xabaru hadTLun Can

Al-Zamaxsari (d. 1144)63 remarks that the mubtada ',
al-(i)smi. fal-musnada huwa al-fi'lu wahuwa xabaru like the fC'il, is a musnad 'ilayhi.64 According to 'Ibn
al-(i)smi, wal-musnadu 'ila} hi huwa al/afcilu wahuwa Ya cT (d. 1245)65 in the verbal forms daraba, "the two
al-(i)smu al-muxbaru canhu. "The preferable view of them hit" and darabfi, "they hit," the bound pro-
[concerning the musnad and the musnad 'ila vhi is that] nouns are the musnad 'ilayhi.66 Al-JurjanT (d. 1413)67
the meaning of al-musnad is "the predicate" (= al-hadTl says that the mubtada' is also called musnad 'i/avhi
wal-xabar),58 and the meaning of al-musnad 'ilaphi is (and muhaddat canhu), and that the xabar is also
"the subject" (= al-muhaddat canhu).59 There are two called musnad (and hadlt).68 According to al-SuyutT (d.
kinds [of combinations of a musnad and a musnad 1505),69 whenever a fi'l and an 'ism form the two
Di/a phi: a combination of] afa-cil and aficl [in a verbal
indispensable parts of a sentence, the fiC/ is the musnad
sentence, and a combination of] an 'ism and a xabar and the 'ism is the musnad 'i/avhi.'0
[in a nominal sentence]. The musnad is the fic/ and the According to AIbn cAqil (d. 1367),7' the term musnad
xabar (= predicate). The musnad Di/avhi is the facil also denotes, apart from the predicate:
(= the subject of a verbal sentence) and the 'ism which (1) The accusative of kUna wa'axawdtuhM, e.g.,
is the subject59 [in a nominal sentence]" (Jahn 1/3 14, ddriban in kdna zavdun ddriban camran, "Zayd was
25; 14, 33-35). hitting cAmrnr ('Ibn cAqll 213, 16).72
(2) 'Ab5 Hayyan says in his commentary to the (2) The xabar of 'inna wa 'axawdtuhM, as ddribun in
'Alfiyya: waminhum man ja'ala al-mahki7ma calayhi the example 'inna zaydan daribun camran, "Verily
huwa al-musnada 'ilayhi wal-mahki7ma bihi huwa al- Zayd is hitting cAmr" ('Ibn cAqil 213, end).73
musnada, wahadd alladT naxtdruhu. fayakfinu zaydun (3) The second accusative of doubly transitive verbs
.fT "qma zaydun," wazaydun fT "zaydun qd'imun" which belong to the category known as 'afcdl al-quluh,
huwa al-musnada 'ila phi, wayaki7nu qdma waqj'imun e.g., .driban in zanantu zaydan ,dariban Camran, "I
huwa al-musnada. "Among them [i.e., among the thought that Zayd was hitting cAmrn" ('Ibn 'Aqil 213,
grammarians] are people who believe that the subject end).73
( al-mahki7m 'alayhi)60 is the musnad 'ilayhi, and the (4) The third accusative of verbs like 'aclama, e.g.,
predicate (= al-mahki7m bihi) is the musnad. This is the ddriban in 'a clamtu zavdan camran ddriban bakran, "I
view which we prefer. [According to this view] zayd in informed Zayd that CAmr is hitting Bakr" ('Ibn cAq-l
the [example] qama zaydun (= "Zayd stood'), and zaYd 213, end).73
in the [example] zaydun qd'imun (_ "Zayd is stand- In all the above cases the relation between the part of
ing") is the musnad 'ilayhi, while qdma and qd'imun the sentence called musnad and one of the other parts
are the musnad" ('Abui Hayyan 4, 13-15). of the sentence corresponds to the relation between the
The view that the subject is the musnad 'ilayhi, and subject and predicate of a nominal sentence. The part
the predicate is the musnad in both nominal and verbal called musnad is that part which corresponds to the
sentences is also expressed by 'Ibn Higdm (d. 1360).6 predicate of the nominal sentence.
See 'Ibn Higam ruir 18, 9 to end (quoted in 4.3
below); 'Ibn Higdm, Qatr I 125, 8 to end."2
mubtada' (cf. Ibn Higam, Sudgr 179, 7-180, 14). The subject
al-zavdini in this example is called al-Rfail (cf. ibn Higam
58 On the meaning of hadit and xabar in the sense of
Sudgr 158, 1-3; 159, 8-12).
"predicate" see below VI. 63 See Blanc 1271, 1-2.
5 On the meaning of al-muhaddat canhu and al-muxbar 64 Zamax~ari 13, 4-5.
Canhu in the sense of "subject" see below VI. 65 See Blanc 1271, 3.
60 The term al-mahkam 'alayhi denotes the subject, and al-66 Ibn Ya'Tl 1 21, 18-19.
mahkum bihi the predicate. These terms are also used by al-67 See El2 11 602 B, 60-61.
SuyfitT (see Suyfit! I 10, 24). On these terms see Weiss 31,68 JurjanT 2, article al-'ibtidd'. For muhaddat canhu in the
23-27.
sense of "subject" and hadft in the sense of "predicate" see
61 See Blanc 1271, 34. below VI.
62 In order to understand ibn Hiam's words in Qatr 1 125, 69 See Goldziher 142, 26-27.
8 to end, at this point, we have to keep in mind that according70 SuyUtT I 11, 25-31.
to his terminology, the predicate 'aqd'imun, which occurs at 7' El2 III 698 B, 64.
the beginning of the example 'aqd'imun al-zaydini, "Are the72 DIbn 'AqlI 213, 15-16.
two Zayds standing?" ('Ibn Higdm, Qatr 128, 17), is called al- 73 DIbn 'AqlI 213, 15-17.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad 'llayhi and Al-'Isnad 153

4.2 The literal meaning of al-musnad and al-musnad It should be noted that according to Weiss, who
'i/a hi in the later sources. In the later sources, deals
the with later sources of cilm al-wadc.', the term
term al-musnad Di/a phi should be interpreted as the manskb Dila phi is equivalent to musnad 'ilaj hi, "a
impersonal passive participle of the verb Dasnadahu subject," and the term mansib is equivalent to mnusnad,
'i/J in the sense of "to ascribe something to,"74 while "a predicate."79 It seems that these two terms developed
the term al-musnad should be interpreted as the per- from nasaba Dild which corresponds to 'asnada /ila in
sonal passive participle of the same verb. Literally, al- the usage mentioned above. Literally, al-mansab
musnad ia/ hMi means "that to which something is Vila hi, like al-musnad Dja/hi, means "that to which
ascribed," and al-musnad is "that which is ascribed to something [i.e., the predicate] is ascribed," and al-
(something)." Hence, al-musnad Dilavhi is the subject, mansiub, like al-musnad, means "that which is ascribed
i.e., the part of the sentence to which the predicate is to [the subject]."
ascribed, and al-musnad is the predicate, i.e., the part
of the sentence which is ascribed to the subject. This
interpretation agrees with Lane's (see Lane IV 1444 A, 4.3 The meaning of 'asnadahu Dild and 'usnibla d
46-52) and is supported by the following consider- as technical grammatical expressions. 'asnadlahu "ifJ
ations: as a technical grammatical expression does not occur
(1) We find that Ibn Jinn! (d. 1002)75 and DIbninYa'CT the Kitdb at all, while 'usnida Dild occurs only once
use the verb nasaba, "to ascribe to," beside 'asnada, in (in the jussive form), in the expression lam lvusnad uild
their definition of the fa'il. DIbn Jinni says: 'i'lam musnadin (STb. II 61, 3-4).8? According to Sibawayhi's
anna al-/aila Cinda ahli al-/arabivyati kullu (i)smin view of the musnad and musnad 'ilay hi (see above 2. 1-
dakartahu ba da fi in, wa asnadta wanasabta ddlika 2.3), 'usnida ild must be interpreted here as "to
become the musnad 'ila hi [of a certain musnad]." i.e.,
al-fiCla 'ild ddlika al-(i)smi.... "Know that the fidil,
according to the view of the grammarians of the Arabic to become the second indispensable part of the sen-
language, is every noun which you mention after a tence. It should be noted that a similar usage of
verb, and [at the same time] you ascribe that verb to Dusnida 'ild is found in the eighteenth century, in the
that noun." ('Ibn Jinni 13, 2-3). The correspondence dictionary Taj al-cAruis.
between 'asnadta and nasabta in this context is ob-
vious. Ibn Ya'T? uses almost the same words, except
'9 See Weiss 31, 23-27. See also Trumpp 57, 11.
that he writes ft Cur/j al-nahwiyvTna, "according to the
opinion of the grammarians" instead of Cinda Dahli al- 80 The words lam 'vusnad 'ila musnadin occur in Sibawayhi's
'arabin~ati.76 See also AIbn Yacig I 88, 10-1 1, where wediscussion of the behavior of various parts of speech (such as
find 'usnadu 'ilaihi beside vunsabu 'ilaiphi. participles, adjectives, particles etc.). when occurring in cer-
(2) Al-Zamaxsari defines the term kaldm, "sentence" tain combinations which are used as proper names (see Sib. II
as follows: wal-kal/mu huwa al-murakkabu min 60, 20-61, 8). Sibawayhi mentions that he asked his teacher,
kalimatai'ni 'usnidat 'ihldhumd 'ild al- 'uxrd. "The al-XaTl1, about the case ending in the combinations ddribun
sentence is [what is] composed of two words, of which rajulan, "hitting a man," ma Dxidun hika, "fascinated by you"
one is ascribed [i.e., assigned as a predicate]77 to the and xaYrun minka, "better than you," when occurring as
other" (ZamaxsarT 4, 15-16). AIbn Yacig uses the verb masculine proper names. A1-XalIl's answer was that there is
tunsabu when referring to this definition: watarkTbu al- no difference between the behavior of these combinations in
'isnddi 'an turakkaba kalimatun ma ca kalimatin their original meaning, and their behavior when they occur as
tunsabu Dihdjhumn cild al- uxrd. "The meaning of proper names. When Sibawayhi asked al-Xalil how these
tarkTb al- 3isnad78 is that one word is construed with combinations
the behave when used as feminine proper names
other [in such a way that] one of the words is ascribed (see Sib. II 60, 21-23), al-Xalil answered: Il 'ada'u al-tanwina
to the other" ('Ibn Yacig I 22, 23). min qibali -anna xav ran laysa muntahd al-ismi, ivala
ma'xidan wald ddriban. Dala tard 'annaka Didd qulta ddribun
rqjulan Daw ma Dxidun bika wva'anta tabtadi u al-kaldma,
74 On 'asnadahu 'dja in this sense see Lisdn XV 53 A, 5-6. (i)hutjta hdhund DM/Y al-xabari kamd (i)htafta ila hi fTq awlika
7 See Blanc 1270, 16-17. zaydun. waddrihiun waminka bimanzilati Cav 'in min al-ismi fT
76 See DIbn Ya'cs 1 88, 24-89, 1: wwaDasnadta wanasabta etc. lam lvusnad Dila musnadin. I would not drop
Dannahu
occurs also in DIbn Ya'cT 89, 2. [in this case] the tanwin, as neither xavr, nor ma Dxid, nor
77 On this meaning of Dusnida see below 4.3. this case a predicate (= xabar) [in order to form a complete
78 On the meaning of tarkTb a-_ Disnad see below V. sentence], just as you need a predicate when you begin the

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 154 Journal qf the American Oriental SocietY 101.2 (1981)

In the sources from the tenth to the fifteenth cen-
turies, the verb 'asnadahu 'ild occurs as a technical
grammatical expression, meaning "to assign a predi-
cate to a subject." Its passive form, 'usnida Dild, is
similarly used in the sense of "to be assigned as a
predicate to [a subject]." The following examples
illustrate the occurrence of 'asnadahu /ila and 'usnida
/ila in the above sense.81 In these examples the literal
meaning of 'asnadlahu Dild is "to ascribe something to."
(1) Al-ZamaxsarT says in his discussion of the passive
form of doubly transitive verbs like 'actd, "he gave":
walaka fT al-mafcdlavni al-rutagaviravni 'an tusnida
uild 'a}vihimd iCta. taqdlu: 'u'tiva zav'dun dirhaman
wakusiv a cainrun jubbatan, wa 'l 'tiya dirhanmun za v- Both from the context and from 'Ibn Yacig's interpreta-
dan wakusivat /uhhatun 'amran, DillM 'anna al-'isndda tion, it is clear that 'asnada 'ila occurs here as a gram-
Dild md huwa fT al-nia'ndf t'ilun 'ahsanu, wahuwa matical expression. Al-Zamaxsari is here dealing with a
Zavdun li'annahu cdtin, wa'aanrun liVannahu muk-
ta~sin. "In the case that the two accusatives [of doubly
transitive verbs] denote two different entities [i.e.,
where the relation between these two accusatives does
not correspond to the relation between a subject and a
predicate in a nominal sentence]82 you are allowed to
sentence with the word -aid (cf. Sib. 11 60, 16-17). [Both]
,ldrih and m7inka are to be considered only as a part of the
[proper] names [(1dribun ra/ulan and xaytrun minka] and as
such they cannot become the musnad 'ilayhi of any n7usnad"
(Sib. 11 61, 1-4). I.e., when ddribun and minka form a part of
the proper names claribun rajulan and xavrun minka respec-
tively, they cannot occur as a musnad 'ilalyhi. In the same says, with reference to the two direct objects of verbs like 'a ctd:
way, when xa;ir, ma'xtid and C/drib form a part of the above
mentioned proper names, they cannot occur as a muHtada',
which forms the musnad in a nominal sentence.
L lane remarks that 'usnida ild occurs in a special gram-
matical sense. In lane IV 1443 A, 56-60 we find the following:
'usnicla al-/i a 'ild Zavdin is said of the verb in the phrases
qdma Zavduw and duriba zar-dun and zavdun qdma, meaning
The verb is maole an attributive to Zevd.
82 Some Arab grammarians say that in a nominal sentence
of the type 'abdu (a)lldhi muntaliqun "the predicate is the
same thing as the subject," i.e., the predicate denotes the same
thing as the subject (see, for example, Sib. 1 239, 5-8). In the
same way, when the relation between two parts of a sentence
corresponds to the relation between a subject and a predicate
in a nominal sentence, the grammarians also say that the two
parts "denote the same thing." See, for example, 'Ibn Ya'As's
words with respect to the two direct objects of 'a 'alal-qul/h
(ibn Ya is II 968, 8-10; 968, 22-969, 16; 983, 5-7). In contrast
to this, when the relation between two of the parts of a
sentence does not correspond to the relation between a subject
and a predicate in a nominal sentence, it is said that these two
assign [the verb] as a predicate to any one of them. You
say: ' utiara 'aydiun dirhaman (= "Zayd was given a
dirham") and kusil'a 'amrun jubhatan (- "'Amr was
clothed in a juhba")83 [as well as] 'u'tila dirhamun
zavdan ( "A dirham was given to Zayd") and kusil at
jubbatun Camran (= "A jubba was put on 'Amr"). But
the assignment of [the verb as a predicate] to that
[accusative] which corresponds in meaning to the fd'il
is preferable. [The accusative corresponding in mean-
ing to the hf'i/] is Iaj'd [in the example 'u ctiia :axvdun
dirhaman] as he is the one who takes, and 'amr [in the
example kusiya camrunjubhatan] as he is the one who
puts on [the jubba]"" (Zamaxsari 116, 21-117, 3).84
formal grammatical question: which one of the two
direct objects of doubly transitive verbs like 'a 'ta takes
the nominative when the verb occurs in the passive
voice?85 The words walaka 'an tusnida 'ild Davvihimd
sPita denote that any one of these two objects may take
the nominative, as the verb in this case may be assigned
to any one of them as a predicate. AIbn Ya'1i says so
explicitly, interpreting these words by the saying kUna
laka 'an tuqfma Dayjvahumd ?Pta maqama al-fd'ili.
"You can put any one of them [i.e., of the two accusa-
tives] in the place of thefd'il"86 (Ibn Ya CT II 983, 9).8
parts are different from one another. For instance, 'Ibn Ya J?
wawakuinu al-mnaf u/u al- 'awualu f ha gayra al-tdni ....
"the first direct object [of verbs as 'a !ta] is different from their
second direct object" ('Ibn Ya l1 11 968, 9-10. See also Ibn
Ya'B1 11 968. 8-14). Hence, al-Zamaxgari's expression al-
mat'-Il/ni al-mutagdi'irdni denotes that the relation between
the two direct objects does not correspond to the relation
between a subject and a predicate in a nominal sentence. For
Sibawayhi's view on the points mentioned above see Levin
2.5, especially pp. 196-202 and footnote 97.
83Juhba: "upper gown with very full sleeves" (see Hava
p. 75).
84 Cf. 'Ibn Ya i? II 968, 10-14.
The question which part of the sentence takes the nomina-
tive when the verb is in the passive constitutes the essential
point in al-Zamaxsari's discussion of the passive verb (see
Zamax~ari 1 16,4-117, 3).
86 The subject of a passive verb is called by the grammarians
maf dl (see, for example, Sib. I 10, 16-17) and also qd'im
maqdm al-fd'il, "supplying the place of thefd 'i (see Wright II
269, 5-10).
87 See Ibn Ya'T9 11 983, 7-19.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad 'Ilayhi and Al-'Isnad 155

Both al-Zamaxgari and 'Ibn Ya'1T are here using The `ism [as a predicate occurs in] such [examples] as
grammatical terms and are expressing the same notion,
zaivdun 'axuika (= "Zayd is your brother"): al- 'ax
but they do it in two opposite directions. While al- ( "the brother") is the predicate and zaid is an Dism
Zamax~arT says that the verb may be assigned as a [occurring as a] subject. The sentence [as a predicate
predicate to any one of the two direct objects, AIbn occurs in] such [examples] as 'and quntu (= "I stood"):
Ya'cT says that any one of the two direct objects may qarna is a verb which is assigned as a predicate to the
take the place of the /Ja/ (= subject). bound pronoun of the first person singular 1'tu/, and
In a discussion of a similar formal point by al- qdma + the bound pronoun / tu/ form a sentence,
Zamax~arT, we find the same use of 'asnada 'ild, and which is assigned as a predicate to 'and' ('lbn HisAm,
the same kind of interpretation by 'Ibn Yacis.88 ~uduir 18, 9-13).
(2) AIbn al-'Anbdr! (d. 1181)89 says in his definition
(4) DIbn Ya'T9 says, when comparing the fi'il with
of the fa 'il: 'in qdla qd `ilun: md al/fd'ilu? q~la: 'ismun the mubtada ': . . . vva'anna al-fd'cila qad Dusnidla
(lakartahu ha dla ficlin, wa 'asnadta Iddlika al-fi'la Dilavphi kavruhu karnd Danna al-mrubtada'a kaddlika,
jilairhi, nahwu qdma Zar~dun wadahaba 'ainrun '"If Dil/ Danna xabara al-mubtada Di ha cdahu waxabara al-
somebody asks: what is the meaning of al-fIdil? The faijij/ qablahu. ". and because another [part of the
went away") ('Ibn 'AnbdrT, "Asrdr 34, 12-13). sentence] is assigned to the fd-il [as a predicate], just as
(3) 'Ibn Hisam says, when discussing the charac- [another part of the sentence] is assigned [as a predi-
teristics of the itisn: al-tdlitatu: al- 'isnddu Dilaihi, cate] to the mubtadatD, but [they differ from each other
wvahuwa 'an vusnada 'ila lhi md tatimmu hihi al- in that] the xabar (= "predicate") of the muhtadaD
fa'idatu, sawad'un kdna al-musnadu fiilan 'au isman occurs after the mubtatiaD, while the xahar92 of the
awu jumlatan. ial-Ci'lu kaqama zaidun, Jfqdmaa Pfiu fid'il precedes the fi'il" (Ibn YacT9 I 102, 21-22).
musnadun wazavdun ismun musnadun ila} hi. wal- It is understood from the above quotation, as well as
ismu nahwu "ziavldun 'axit-ka, fal- axu musnadun from another excerpt from DIbn HiAdm, that the words
wa-ai vdun ismun musnadun 'ilayhi. wal-jumlatu nahwu
ma tatimmu hihi al_ fdida are equivalent in sense to the
Dan& qumtu, faqdma fi'lun mnusnadun 'ild al-ta' . term mnusnad, "predicate."93 Hence, the meaning of
waqdrna waN/tdD jumnlatun mnusnadatun uild Dand. "The wahuwa 'an yusnada Tila hi md tatirnrnu hihi al-
third [characteristic of the 'ism] is al-'isndd 'ilavhi.90 faDidatu is actually "[The meaning of al- Disnjd Dila hi
[The meaning of al-'isndd Vi/avhi] is that something is] that a predicate [can be] assigned to it [i.e., to the
with which the meaning of the sentence is completed9' `iVm]. 1s
is assigned to it [i.e., to the 'ism] [as a predicate], (5) In 'Ibn 'AqTl's definition of the /a'il, we find the
notwithstanding whether the musnad (= predicate) is a following: fa Damnmd al-fd'ilu fahuwa al-isrnu al-
verb, or an Dish or a complete sentence. The verb [as a musnadu Tila/athi fic/un cald tarnqati fa 'ala Daw fibhuhu
predicate occurs in] such [examples] as qdma zavdun ... faxarq/a bil-musnadi Dilavhi ficlun mna Dusnida
(= "Zayd stood"): qdma is a verb [occurring as a] 'ila lhi kavruhu nahwu zavdun Daxuika, Daw jumiatun
predicate and zavd is an 'ism [occurring as a] subject. nahwu Zavdun qdnma DabLThu Daw Zavfdun qdma. "As
for the fJacil, it is the noun to which a verb in the active
voice, or [a part of speech] which resembles the verb in
"8 See Zamax~ari 116, 17-21; Ibn Ya' T 11 982, 14-20. See the active voice, 94 is assigned as a predicate.... [The
also the use of vusnadu 'ild and the similar interpretation by
Ibn Ya is (Zamaxsar! 116, 10-16; AIbn Ya'Hs 980, 15-982, 4). 92 Note that here xabar denotes the predicate of a verbal
89 On Ibn al-'Anbdri see El2 1 485-486, article al-Anbdri, sentence. See also 'lbn Ya'19 23, 8; Dlbn Sarraj 1 39 7.
AbG 'I-Barakdt. 93 Ibn Higdm, Qatr 1 125, 16 defines the xabar as follows:
90 For the meaning of al- isnad 'ilayhi see below V. wal-x abaru huwa al-musnadu alladi- tatimmu bihi ma'a a!-
' This translation of md tatimmu bihi al-fd'ida is based muhtada'ifd'idatun,
on "The xabar is the musnad (= predicate)
Lane, who says that one of the meanings of fd'ida is which
"a together with the mubtada' completes the meaning of
complete meaning of a phrase, such that a pause may be well
the sentence."
made after the uttering thereof' (Lane VI 2470 C, 55-58). This
94 According to Ibn 'AqlI, the term fihh al-ficl, which
definition of fila is supported by the data found in various literally means "that which is like the verb" (see Wright II 284,
sources. See, for example, AIbn Ya lT 1 28, 3-10; 22, 23-23, 1;
14), denotes the active participle, the category of adjectives
Ibn Higdm Qatr I 125, 8-i6; Ibn Hiam, 38, 15-17; A1bn known as al-sifa al-muWabbaha (as, for example, hasan), the
-AqlI 2, 12. The last two references support the second part masdar,
of Dism al-fi 'I al-zarf, al-/arr wal-majriir and 'af~dalu al-
Lane's definition "such that a pause . . ." etc. tafifi (see 'Ibn 'AqlI 120, 9-12).

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 156 Journal of the American Oriental Society 101.2 (1981)

words] al-musnad 'ilavhi ficlun exclude [from the "['istawd is a verb] which can be the musnad of two or
more f-'ils [which occur as the musnad 'ilayhi]. 1lOO
category of fiCil] every subject to which a predicate,
other than the fiCl, is assigned, such as [the subject] Another example of 'usnida 'ild which Lane men-
zaydun, to which the predicate 'axiika is assigned [in tions, should be discussed. Referring to the phrase
the example] zaydun 'axi7ka (= "Zayd is your brother"), Dusnida al-fi'lu 'ila za i'din, which usually means,
or [the subject zayd, to which] a sentence is assigned as according to him, "The verb is made an attributive to
a predicate [in the example] zaydun qdma 'abu-hu Zeyd,"1'O Lane says that "in an unusual manner, it is
(= "Zayd, his father stood"), or in the example zaYdun said (in Msb102 in article sib) of the verb in the saying
qi-ma (= "Zayd stood")" (DIbn 'Aqil 120, 4-7). salabtu zaydan tawbahu, so that it means in this
We may say that 'usnida 'ild in AIbn 'Aqil's usage, instance The verb is made to have Zevd for its object."
denotes the assignment of any kind of a predicate to its (Lane IV 1443 A, 60-1443 B, 1). Lane's interpretation of
subject (see the examples in AIbn 'Aqil 120, 6-12; 121, the meaning of 'usnida Dild in this case must be
10-12). rejected, as it is based on an erroneous assumption: the
(6) The verb is defined by 'Ibn al-'Anbar! as md example to which the phrase -usnida al-fi-lu _iIJ
Dusnidla 'ila satin walam yusnad 'ilaihi sai nun, zavdin refers is not mentioned in al-FayyUrmn's text,
"Something which is assigned to something else as a and it must be completed by the reader.'02 Lane
predicate, but to which nothing can be assigned as a assumes that this phrase refers to the example salabiu
predicate" ('Ibn 'Anbari, 'Asrar 6, 13). zaj'dan tawbahu'03 (see above), but this assumption
In the later sources from the tenth to the fifteenth creates a great difficulty, as it does not accord with the
century, the verb Dasnada Di/d and its passive form meaning of 'usnida Dila. It is preferable to assume that
Dusnida Dild denote the assignment of the predicate to this phrase refers to the example suliba Zavdun taw ban.
the subject, but not, as far as I know, the assignment of "A robe was stolen from Zayd." Thus, 'usnida al-';a;la
the subject to the predicate. On the other hand in Dild zavdin is here in its ordinary sense, as -usnida Dila
Lane's dictionary we find the following: "And Dusnida also denotes the assignment of the verb in the passive
voice as a predicate to its subject.'04
Dilavhifid'ildnifasdcidan is said (in the TA95 in article
swY) of the verb in the phrase 'istawd zai'dun wva Camrun
4.31 The use of musnad 'ila hi as a personal passive
waxdlidun fT hida (SiC!);96 so that it means Two and
participle form of 'asnada 'ild. In the later sources
more agents are assigned to it" (Lane IV 1443 B, 2-4).97
musnad Dil/ occurs as a personal passive participle of
This use of 'usnida 'ild in the Tqj, which is an 18th
century source,98 does not agree with the application of Dasnada jila in the sense of "to assign a predicate to a
Dusnida Dild in the tenth to fifteenth century sources. subject" (see above 4.3). The following examples illus-
trate this use of musnad 'ila:
The difference in meaning is best illustrated in AIbn al-
'AnbarT's definition of the verb as ma 'usnida 'iI& (1) qad tuhdafu al-ta' min al-fi'li al-inusnadi Lild
sa} Din walam vusnad Dilavhi sai Dun. mu Dannatin ihaqiqiiyin min gayri fas lin, wahuwa
qalilun jiddan. hakd sTbawa phi: qdla fuldnatu. '05
It seems that the meaning of 'usnida /ila in the Taj is
"Sometimes the pronominal suffix of the third person
influenced by Sibawayhi's usage, and by his concept of
singular feminine is dropped from a verb which is
the musnad and musnad 'ilavhi. It should be noted
that the only opinion on this point mentioned by the
Tdj is that of al-Xa1Tl and STbawayhi.99 The correct
meaning of 'usnida 'ilalhi fa'il/ni fasd'idan is: 100 For the meaning of miusnad and m7usnadi 'i/avhi accord-
ing to Sibawayhi see above 2.1-2.4.
101 See footnote 81 above.
95 TA = Taj al-cArfis (see References, Taj). 102 See Fayyfimi 136, article s/h (Msb = Fayyumi).
96 The Tdj has kadd instead of hiidd as in Lane's quotation 103 According to al-Fayyfimi's text, tawhahu cannot occur
(see Taj X 187, 33-34). here, as al-Fayyimi says that the word tawb takes the nash as
97 For the complete text from which Lane's example is a tanitkz (see Fayyumi 136, article s/b). As a noun occurring
taken, see Taj X 187, 33-34. A similar example also occurs in as a tan7YTz must always be indefinite (see, for example, Ibn
Taj X 188, 40: wva-(i)stavvd qad _rusnadu Di/avhi fiCjil/ni
'Aqil 180, 14-17; Wright 11 122, end-123, 3), Lane should
fasd Ci(Ian. have written tawban instead of tawbahu.
98 The author of the Taj, Murtada al-ZabidT, died in 1791 04 See above 4.3. See also Zamaxsari 116, 3-5.
(see Goldziher 154, 30-155, 3). '05 Dieterici's vocalization fuldnatun ('Ibn CAqTl 124, 16) is
99 See footnote 44 above. incorrect.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad Ailayhi and Al-'Isnad 157

assigned as a predicate to a subject which denotes a which is assigned to it as a predicate" (Zamaxsarl

natural feminine, even if the verb is not separated from 11, 7-9).
the subject [by a word or a suffix]. Examples of this (2) AIbn Ya'cT says, referring to the examples qatna
kind are very rare. STbawayhi quoted the example qdla
zaydun, "Zayd stood" (Ibn Ya'cs 1 89, 14-15); sava-
fuldnatu (= so and so [fem.] said)" (AIbn 'AqYl 124, qiumu zajdun, "Zayd will stand" (Ibn Ya'cT 1 89, 15)
15-16). and hal Yaqu-mu zaidun, "Will Zayd stand?" (ibid.):
(2) AIbn Higam says, when mentioning the various fazaydun fljam ci hddihi al-suwarifid'ilun min havtu
kinds of predicates which can be assigned as a predi- Danna al-fi'la musnadun Dilai hi wamuqaddamun
cate to the Dism:106 wal-/um/atu nahwu Dand qumtu. Calaiyhi, sa-d Dun fa'ala Daw lam vaf cal. "Zayd in all
faqdma fi'lun musnadun 'ild al-td', waqama wal-td' these types of sentences'09 [represented by the examples
jum/atun musnadatun 'ild 'and. "A sentence [as a given above] is a/fdci/, as the verb is assigned to it as a
predicate] occurs in such [examples] as Dand quntu predicate, and [as the verb] precedes it, notwithstand-
("I stood"): qdma is a verb which is assigned as a ing whether Zayd acted or did not act" (DIbn Ya'cs I
predicate to the bound pronoun of the first person 89, 15-16).
singular -tu, and qdma + the bound pronoun -tu form a (3) Other examples of this kind are to be found in
sentence which is assigned as a predicate to Dand" (AIbn DIbn JinnT 10, 3-4; 'IO DIbn JinnT 14, 6111 and Trumpp
Hi~am, Suduir 18, 12-13). It should be noted that 57, 9.112
the example musnad 'ild which occurs here beside
V. THE MEANING OF THE TERM 'ISVAVD
musnad 'ila (see above) proves that rnusnad /ila in this
sense is a personal passive participle, as the impersonal
The term 'isnad, according to Wright and Recken-
passive participle is indeclinable.'17
dorf, denotes the relation between the subject and the
The bound pronoun of the third person singular
predicate."13 However, the information found in the
masculine is sometimes suffixed to musnad Dild in the
later sources would seem to define 'isnad as "the
above sense. The expression musnad "ilavhi, which is
assignment of a predicate to a subject." The following
thus formed is a personal passive participle, and must
points support this definition:
be distinguished from the technical term musnad
(1) We have seen previously that the verb 'asnadlahu
'ilavhi, "a subject," which formally is an impersonal
'ila occurs in the later sources in the sense of "to assign
passive participle (see above 4.2). The following ex-
a predicate to a subject" (see above 4.3). In the same
amples illustrate the occurrence of musnad 'ilavhi not
sources, 'isndd D il occurs as the nasdlar of 'asnadlahu
as a technical term, but as a personal passive participle
of 'a.snada 'ild in the sense of "to assign a predicate to
a subject."
(1) al-fid'ilu huwa mnd kana al-musnadu Vilaphi min
109 The translation of suwar as "types of sentences" is drawn

fi'lin 'au fihhihi muqaddaman Cala 'hi 'ahadlan, 'Ibn Yaci'?s text (see 'Ibn Yacls 1 89, 13-15).
from
kaqaw/lika: dlaraba zaYdun, wazav dun daribun guld-110 See DIbn Jinni 10, 2-5.
muhu waahasanun wva/huhu. vvahaqquhu al-raf'u, "' See 'Ibn Jinni 14, 5-7.
warfi cuhu md 'usnida Di/a} hi. "Thefid'il is [the part Trumpp 57, 8-10. Fleischer remarks that al-musnad
112See
of the sentence] always preceded by a verb or by a fibh
Di/al hi here is a personal passive participle form (see Fleischer
al-fi'l,'O8 which is assigned to it [i.e., to thefd'il] as a
II 88, 29-89, 3).

predicate, as in the examples daraba zai'dun (= "Zayd

'" Wright says: "The relation between them [i.e. between
hit") and zavdun ddribun gul/muhu (= "Zayd, his slave
the musnad and the musnad 'i/avhi--see Wright II 250, 6-1 1]
is hitting") and [zaydun] hasanun wajhuhu (= "[Zayd], is termed al-/ isnad, properly the act of leaning (one thing
his face is nice"). The fd'i/ is intrinsically in the nomina-
against another), then, as a concrete, the relation of attribu-
tive case, and the [part of the sentence] which affects it (Wright II 250, 11-14); Reckendorf defines 'isnad as
tion"
in such a way that it takes the nominative is the [part] "Verhaltnis zwischen Subjekt und Pradikat" (Reckendorf 1,
10-11). Trumpp's definition is "Das zwischen dem Subject
und Praedicat stattfindende Verhaltniss heist 'isnad (die
106 See DIbn Hisam, Sudfir 18, 9-13 quoted and translated Anlehnung)" (Trumpp 58, 20-22), to which Fleischer re-
in 4.3. marked "Demnach ist auch S.58 Z.4 v.u. in der Definition
107 See Wright II 268, 5-23. von al-'isndd umgekehrt zu schreiben: das zwischen dem
108 For the meaning of the term hibh al-fi'l see footnote 94 Praedicat und dem Subject stattfindende Verhaltniss"
above. (Fleischer 11 89, 3-5).

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 158 Journal of the American Oriental Society 101.2 (1981)

lid in this sense, and is actually a technical term 'AqlI as al- 'ixbdr 'anhu. 16 This supports the view that
denoting "the assignment of a predicate to a subject." al-'isndd 'ild denotes the assignment of the predicate
This sense of 'isnjd 'ila is illustrated by the following to the subject, as al- Dixbdr bihi can in this sense occurs
excerpts, in which it occurs beside 'asnada and elsewhere in lbn 'Aqll's commentary on the 'Alfiyya.l 7
Dusnida Djl/: lil-'ixbdr 'anhu in the above sense is used also by
1. 'i'larn 'anna al-fd'ila cinda 'ahli al-'arabivati DIbn Yac!9s.1 It is to be noted that DIbn Ya'lT inter-
kullu (i)srnin dakartahu ba'da fij/in wa asnadta prets the word lii- Disndd in al-ZamaxgarT's text by
wanasabta dalika al-fi'la jila ddlika al-ismi, wahuwva using the verb Daxbara bi can, which means in this case
to assign a predicate to a subject."9 `axbara can in this
mnarf cun bifi/lihi, wvahaqrqatu raf 'ihi hibisnddi al-fiIli
'ilaihi. "Know that the fd'il according to the view of sense resembles 'asnada Dild (see above 4.3), but we
the grammarians of the Arabic language is every rinsm may draw the conclusion from 'Ibn YacT9 1 23, 1-4 that
which you mention after a verb, and you ascribe that the meaning of 'asnada Dila is more general than that
verb to that Disrn [i.e., you assign that verb as a of -axhara Can: while -axbara "an denotes the assign-
predicate to that isrn], and it [i.e., the faci/] is put in ment of the predicate to the subject of declarative
the nominative, due to the grammatical effect of its sentences only,'20 Dasnada jila denotes the same with
verb, and the fact that it is put in the nominative case is respect to the subject and predicate of all types of
due to the assignment of the verb to it as a predicate" sentences, such as declarative, prohibitive, interroga-
(Ibn Jinni 13, 2-4). tive sentences, etc.
2. Ibn Higam says, when discussing the character- (3) In the later sources the masdar 'isndd sometimes
occurs without the preposition uild, as for example in
istics of the 'ism: al-tdlitatu:al- 'isnddu 'ilaqhi, wahiuwa
'an v~usnada 'ilaivhi ma- tatimmu hihi al-fd idatu, al-ZamaxgarT's text: al-mubtada'u wval-xabaru humd
sawJ Dun kana al-mnusnadu fi'lan Daw isman 'aw a/-(i)smdni al-nuiarraddni lii- 'isnddi (Zamaxgar! 12,
jumlatan. . . . 114 16-17) or in the expression tarkTb al-:Disndd, "the
3. Ibn al-Anbari defines the facil as follows: 'in construction of 'isnnd. ,121 It seems that expressions of
qd/a qd'ilun: ma al-1T Li/u? qu1a: 'ismun dakartahu this kind, in which 'isndd occurs without the preposi-
bactla fi'lin, va 'asnadta ddlika al-ficla Dilal hi, nahwu tion 'ild, created the impression that 'isndd denotes the
qdma zavdun wvadahaba camrun" (D'Ibn 'Anbari, relation between the subject and the predicate, but the
'Asrar 34, 12-13). Afterwards. when discussing the
admil which grammatically affects the fd'il, 'Ibn al-
'Anbadr says: ta'in q~la: bimnadd vartafiu al-/fdilu?
qTla: vartaficu hi'isnddi al-ficli 'ila/ahi, la li'annahu 116 DIbn 'AqlI says: wamin xawvdssi al-isni al-nidd'u nahwu
aahdatafiilan Cal al-haqTqati. "If somebody asks: by j Za ialdu - 'isndcu 'ilavhi nahwu palrdun qd'imun,"
which ['amil] is the fJ'il grammatically affected in famnacna al-baizti: hasala lil-ismi tamff~un 'an al-fi li wal-
such a way that it takes the nominative case? The harfi bil-jarri ... wal- isnddi 'ilajlhi Dav 'a/-'ixbdri 'anhu.
"Among
answer is: [the fd'i/] takes the nominative case due to the characteristics of the 'ism is [its occurrence in]
the assignment of the verb as a predicate to it, and not the vocative, as in the exampleJ Zavdclu (= "O Zayd!") . . . and
because [the fdcil/] really executed a certain action" (see [the possibility] of assigning a predicate to it, as in the
Ibn al-'Anbari, DAsrar 35, 9-1 1). We see here that in example za-vdun qj'imun (= "Zayd is standing"). The mean-
the first excerpt AIbn al- AnbarY uses the words ing of the verse [of the 'Alfiyya (see Ibn 'AqlI 3, 16) ] is: the
'ism is distinguished from the verb and the particle by [the
wa'asnadta ddlika al-ficla Dilav-hi, while in the second
excerpt he uses bi'isnddi al-fi C ila'hi, so that fact that it can] take the genitive case . . . and by a!- isnad
'isndd /ila occurs as the masdar of Dasnada ild in 'ilavhi,
the which means a!- ixhdr '-anhu (= "[the possibility] of
sense of "to assign a predicate to a subject." assigning a predicate to it") ('Ibn 'Aqil 4, end-5, 3).
4. For other examples in which 'isnad Dild occurs See Ibn Aqil 118, 9-14.
118 See Ibn Ya"TI 1 106, 1.
beside Dasnada /ila see AIbn Ya'cT 1 28, 3-6; 92, 1-3.
"9 See 'lbn Ya T' I 101, 11-14. Lane mentions 'axhara
(2) The term al-'isnad Dilayhi is interpreted by AIbn
'anhu in the sense of "He predicated of him, or it" (Lane 11
695 C, 15-16).
20 The declarative sentence is called by `Ibn Ya"T9 and other
1"4 For the translation and continuation of this excerpt see
grammarians xabar (see Ibn Ya T9 I 23, 1-4; Sib. 1 58, 11-14).
above 4.3.
121 This expression occurs in Ibn Ya' T I 22, 23. tarkfb
"' For the translation of this excerpt see above 4.3.'isnad occurs in Ibn Ya Ti 22, 19; Ibn 'AqlI 274, 4; 274, end.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad Dllayhi and Al-'1sndd 159

data sources offer evidence that 'isnad is in fact an musnada Dilavhi (i)sinun 'id kana ddlika muxiassan
elliptic way of expressing Disndd Dil& (or Disnad Dilavhi), hihi, li'anna al-ficla wal-harfr la vakunu rninhum17
and as such, is equivalent in meaning. This can easily Disnadun waddlika li'anna al-ficla xaharun, wa idd
be seen from the following extracts: Dasnadta al-xahara ilda mitlihi laM tufid al-muxataha
1. waruhharnd qdla ha duhuinfT Cihdratihi: al-fd'ilu sav an, id alg idatu 'innamd tuhsulu hi isnddi al-
mna (i)rtafa a hi'isnddi al-ficli 'ilayhi wahuwa taqrT- xahari Dld muxharin canhu ma crlpn nahwa qama
hun, wahuwa fl al-haqTqati gavru j&dizin li'anna al- zavdun waqa ada hakrun.... wald vasihhu "an
Disnada macnan, wal& xildfa Danna cdnila alfd' ili vusnada ild al-harfi Daydan sav un li anna al-ha
lqfzhivun. "Sometimes a grammarian says in his ex- ma Cnd lahu fT nafsihi. falamn 'ufid al- isnddu
wald Disndduhu ail galrihi, faliddlika (i)xtassa al-
planation [of the term fdcil]: al-fidil is that [part of the
sentence] which takes the nominative due to the assign- isnadu ilavhi hil-ismni wahdahu. "One of the charac-
ment of the verb as a predicate to it. 122 This is a teristics of the -ism is the possibility of assigning a
simplification,'23 not literally admissible, as the Disnad predicate to it. The 'isnad (= the assignment of the
is an abstract notion, whereas the amj/i 24 [which predicate to the subject) is a distinguishing mark [of
grammatically affects] the fidil, is indisputablythe DiS/17] which denotes that the musnad Di/alai
a con-
crete"' 124 ('Ibn Ya'ci 89. 22-23). It is clear from the ( subject) is always an 'ism as that [characteristic, i.e.,
context that in this excerpt al-/isndd is equivalent in the Disnid] is peculiar to the Dism, because no Disndd
meaning to Disnadu al/i/cli Dilavhi [i.e. ild al-facili], can take place with respect to the verb and the
which occurs before it. particle,'25 as the verb is a xahar (= predicate), and
2. Important evidence that Disndd occurs in the when you assign a predicate to something which
meaning to 'isnadu al-fci 'ilayhi [i.e., 'ild al-fdcill} resembles it, you do not convey a complete meaning
extract: wamnin xawvassi al-isrni jawdzu a!- isnadi [of a sentence], as the complete meaning of the sen-
Dilaihi. /al- Disnadu wr'asfun dallun "ald Dannatence
al- is achieved by the assignment of the predicate to
a definite subject, as in the examples qdma zavdun
(= "Zayd stood") and qacada hakrun (= "Bakr sat")....
122 Such a view is expressed by Ibn al-'AnbdrL. See -IbnIt is also not permissible to assign a predicate to a
'AnbdrL, 'Asrdr 35, 9-10 quoted in V. particle, as the particle has no complete sense in itself.
taqrTh is used here in the same sense as in the expressions Hence the assignment of a predicate to a particle, and
taqrfhun 'ala al-mnuhiadi'i, "making it clearer for the begin- the assignment of the particle as a predicate to some
ner" (see Zajajdj 5 1, 4-6; 47, 12-13; 49, 13), and taqrThun other part of speech, do not form [a sentence which
watavsirun 'ala al-mubtadi i, which has the same meaning has] a complete meaning. For this reason, al-'isndl
(see 'Ibn YaB , Cairo VII 91, 18). See also Ibn al-Sarraj's
Dila i'hi2 is a peculiarity of the Dism only" ('Ibn YaCT9 I
expression mda Xuqarribu 'ald al-muta allirni, "that which 28, 3-10).
makes it clearer for the student (AIbn Sarraj 1 39, 8). The view that al- isnad is equivalent in meaning to
1_ An 'damil (p1. cavwvdmil) is a factor which grammaticallyal- isnad Dilahi is supported by the fact that in the
affects a certain part or parts of the sentence. According to theextract quoted above, al- isnad Dilai hi is used beside
Arab grammarians there are two kinds of 'awvdmil: (1) camil at- isnad in order to denote the assignment of the
Iafiivy (p1. aWdmiil lafLivva), "an expressed cainil," i.e., a predicate to the Disj. l21 This view is also confirmed by
word which occurs in the sentence, and grammatically affects DIbn Ya'cT's use of 'isnad when expressing the notion
a certain part or parts of it, as kdna wa'axawvjtuhd, inna that it is impossible to assign a predicate to a verb or a
wa 'a.xadtuhd, etc. (see Ibn Yacis 101, 6-8). (2) 'dmil particle (/i anna alnfi'la waal-harfa la l aklnu m~inhumd
ma nawiv u, "an abstract 'dMil" or "an unexpressed dm11, isnadun). 28 No other interpretation of Disndd is pos-
i.e., an "an~il which does not occur as a word in the sentence, sible in this context.
but which is an abstract notion. The grammarians say that the
'ihuid' (see below V) is an damil macnawii'v. Ibn Ya is,
according to his comment here, believes that the damil which
affects the fi i/ is the verb itself (see also Ibn YacI9 I 89, 18- 125 I.e., no predicate can be assigned to a verb or a particle.
19), and not the assignment of the verb as a predicate to the 126 al- 'isnad Dilaj hi here means [the possibility] of assigning
hN ii (= 'isndal al-fi"I 'ila'hi). The reason he gives is that the a predicate to it.
'i-vnad is an abstract notion, while there is a general agreement 127 See the extract quoted above, especially Ibn Yacis I 28,
between the grammarians that the 'm1il of the/fdcil is an 'dnmil 3; 28, 9.
laf i`i, and hence must be the verb itself. 128 See AIbn YaciB 1 28, 4-10.

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160 Journal of the American Oriental Society 101.2 (1981)

(4) We find that 'isnad is interpreted in some cases wakawnuhuml mujarradayni lil-'isnadi huwa
by 'isnad 'ild, a fact supporting the view that 'isnad is rdfi'uhumd, "The [camil] which grammatically affects
equivalent in meaning to 'isnad 'ild. [the mubtada' and the xabar] in such a way that they
1. The most important example of this interpretation take the nominative case, is the fact that they are
is found in AIbn Ya'cT's commentary to al-Zamaxgari's grammatically unaffected by any of the cawamil
discussion of the mubtada' and xabar:'29 DIbn Yaci? [known as al- cawimil al-lafiyya], '34 so that the as
discusses the view that the 'ibtiddD is the camil which signment [of the xabar] as a predicate [to the
grammatically affects the muhtada' and xahar in such muhtada'] takes place" (ZamaxgarT 13, 1). We see from
this excerpt that the two elements of the 'ibtidd', as
a way that they take the nominative. 130 In his explana-
tion of the meaning of the term 'ibtidd' he says that given by 'Ibn YacT?, are also mentioned by al-
some of the grammarians of the Basra school believe Zamaxgari, but while 'Ibn Ya c' calls the second
that the 'ihtidd' consists of two elements: (1) the element 'isnad al-xabari 'ileahi, al-ZamaxgarT here
muhtada' and the xahar are unaffected by any of the calls it al- 'isndd. This is again an important testimony
0avdrnil called al-cawamil al-lafzii'va, "the expressed to the equivalence in meaning of al-'isndd and al-
Cauvdmidll such as kana wa Daxawatuhad, Dinna 'isndd /ila, in the sense of "the assignment of a
wa Daxawatuha, and the verbs known as Daf c'/ al- predicate to a subject." It should be noted that al-
qul7b. He calls this first element al-tacarrT cani al- 'isnad must be interpreted in this way on all the other
'awrmil al-lafziVya or in brief al-ta'arrT'32 and also occasions where it occurs infasl 24 (ZamaxgarT 12, 16-
tajrTduhumd cani al-cawdmili al-lafzivxi'a.'33 (2) The 13, 5).135 For example, when al-ZamaxsarT says:.. min
other element indispensable to the existence of the haytu 'anna al-'isnada la vata'atta bidhni tarafavni:
ibtida' is Disnadu al-xabari 'ila uhi, i.e. the assignment musnadin wamusnadin 'ilavhi. "...because the 'isnad
of the xabar as a predicate to the mubtada . (= the assignment of the predicate to the subject)
DIbn Ya'cs says that this view of the 'ibtiddD is also
cannot take place without the existence of two parts: a
held by al-Zamaxgari (see footnote 130 below). He predicate (= musnad) and a subject (= musnad 'ilayhi)"
mentions this when referring to al-Zamaxgarl's words (ZamaxgarT 13, 2); i.e., it is impossible to assign a
predicate to a subject, if one of them is missing.
Another example of 'isndd in this sense (in the same
129 See 'Ibn Ya'Ti 100, 20-103, 14. context) is found in al-Zamaxgari's definition of the
130 This view of the 'ibtida' is expressed by DIbn Ya'Ti as
mubtada' and xabar: al-mubtada'u wal-xabaru humd
follows: wadahaba al-basrivizhna 'i/d 'anna al-nmublada'a
al-ismdni al-mujarraddni lil'isnddi, nahwu qawlika
YartuI Vu hil-ihtid 'i, wahuwa na 'nan. tumma (i)xtalqf7flfThi
zavdun muntaliqun. "The mubtada' and the xabar are
fadahaba ha'duhum 'ild 'anna dalika al-ma'nd huwa al-
the two 'isms which are deprived of [the grammatical
ta'arrT min a!-'awdmili al-lafzivvati, wicaqjla al-'jxariuna:
effect of the cavvdmi/ called al- cawamil al-lafzitva]136 in
huwva al-ta 'arr u'a 'isnadu al-xabari ilai'hi, wahuwa al-
order to assign [the xabar] as a predicate [to the
zihiru min kalarni saihibi hdda al-kitabi. "The grammarians of
mubtada'] as in the example zaydun munta/iqun
the Basra School held the view that the mubtada' takes the
("Zayd is going")"'37 (ZamaxgarT 12, 16-17).
nominative case due to the grammatical effect of the 'ibtidai.
2. 'AbO Hayyan al-Garndti says: wa 'utiqa al- 'isnadu
The 'ihtidj' is an abstract notion. Then, they [i.e. the
wahuwa Disnadun aftziv'un wa Disnadun ma'nawiCvinj
grammarians of Basra] differed in opinion about its meaning
"[This] is called al- Disndd, and it is divided into two
[i.e. about the meaning of ibtidd]. Some of them held the
view that that abstract notion [i.e. the ibtidd'] means the
depriving of [a part or parts of a sentence] of [the grammatical 134 On the meaning of tajrid see Zamaxsari 12, 17-19. On th
effect of] al-'awrnmil al-laf ii'ia (see footnote 124 above). meaning of the term aI-'awimiI al-laqf ia see footnote 124
Other [Basri grammarians] say that ['ibtida'] means the de- above.
priving [of the grammatical effect of al-'awdmil al-lafviva] 135 For DIbn Ya'Tc's interpretation offasl 24 see DIbn Ya'cI I
and the assigning of the xahar as its predicate [i.e. as the predi- 100, 19-103, 13.
cate of the mubtada '], and this is [the view] which is expressed 136 For the meaning of al-'awamnil al-lafzii'va see footnote
by the words of the author of this book [i.e. by al-Zamaxgari]"124 above. See also Zamaxgari 12, 17-18, where al-'awumi/ is
(Ibn Ya 'I 1 102, 8-10). used instead of al-'awvmil al-lafzili' a.
13 See footnote 124 above. 137 See also Zamaxgari 12, 17-13, 2. For DIbn Ya'Ti's inter-
132 See Ibn Ya'T1 1 102, 9. pretation of al-ZamaxsarT's definition of the mubtadaD and
133 See Ibn YacJ9 I 101, 16. xabar see DIbn Ya'cT 101, 5-14.

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad AIlayhi and Al-'Isndd 161

categories: 'isnad lafiyy'38 and 'isnid ma'nawiyy." It is said that al- 'isndd 'ilayhi or al- 'isndd is one of the
('Abii Hayydn 4, 16-17). The 'isnad ma'nawiyy is characteristics of the 'ism, as the 'ism is the only part
defined by 'Abo Hayydn in the same place as follows: of speech to which a predicate can be assigned. In
wal-ma 'nawiyyu huwa al- 'isnddu 'ild madlu7i al- contrast, no predicate can be assigned to the verb
kalimati, nahwu qdma zaydun, fa-muttasifu bilqiyami (=fi'l) and to the particle (= harf).'4'
laysa al-lafza, 'innamd (i)ttasafa bihi madzl7uhu
wahuwa al-s'axsu. "[The meaning of al- 'isndd] al-
macnawiyy is "the assignment [of the predicate] to the
VI. THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TERMS DERIVED
sense of the word [which occurs as a subject], as in the
FROM THE ROOTS S-N-D, X-B-R AND H-D-T
example qdma zaydun (= "Zayd stood"). That which is
described by the [act of] standing is not the word In the terminology of the Arab grammarians we find
[itself], but the meaning expressed by it, i.e., the a correspondence between grammatical terms which
person" ('Abo Hayyan 4, 18-19). We see here that the derive from the roots s-n-d, x-b-r, and h-d-t:
word 'isnad in the expression 'isnad macnawivv is (1) The subject is called al--musnad 'ilavhi,'42 al-
interpreted by the author himself as al-'isnad 'ild. muxbar canhu143 and al-muhaddat canhu.l44
3. The term tarkfb al-'isnad is defined by 'Ibn YacT? (2) The predicate is called al-musnad,'42 al-xabar145
as follows: watarkTbu al-'isnadi 'an turakkaba kali- and had tl'41 or hadT canhu.47
matun ma ca kalimatin tunsabu 'ihddhumd 'ild al- (3) "'To assign a predicate to a subject" is expressed
'uxrd (Ibn YacT? I 22, 23).'39 In this definition the word
by 'asnada il/, 148 'axbara can 149 and haddata can.'50
al-' isnad is interpreted by the verb tunsabu Dila. As (4) "The assignment of a predicate to a subject" is
nasaba 'ild corresponds in 'Ibn YacT'ls usage to called al-'isndd 'ilayhi,'5' al-_ixbdr canhu 52 and al-
'asnada Dila, and sometimes even occurs beside 'asnada hadt canhu. 153
D id,140 al-'isnad in the term tarkTb al-'isndd is thus
seen to occur as the masdar of 'asnada 'ild, and hence
must be interpreted as "the assignment of the predicate 141 See Zamaxsari 4, 20; 'Ibn Ya'Y9 1 28, 3-10; 'Ibn 'AqTl 4,
to the subject." According to this, tarkTb a!- 'isnad end-5; 'Ibn Hi~dm 18, 9-13. 'Abu Hayyan calls the kind of
means "a syntactical construction in which a predicate 'isnad which is a characteristic of the 'ism, 'isnad macnawi v
is assigned to' a subject." (see 'Abii Hayyan 4, 16-19).
142 See above 4.1.
In sum, the term al- 'isnad Dilayhi or al- 'isnad
denotes the assignment of the predicate to the subject. 143 See, for example, Jahn 1/3 14, 34 to end (al-Siraff's
usage); 'Ibn 'Anbari, 'Asrar 30, 22-23; 'Ibn Ya'1i 1 23, 7-8; 28,
5; Jurjdn! 2, article al-'ibtidd'.
'1 Abi Hayydn does not define the term 'isndl/qfjiyv, but 144 See, for example, 'Ibn Sarraj 1 63, 7; Jahn 1/3 14, 15 (al-
we can infer from his illustrations that he believes that 'isnid Sirdf's usage); 'Ibn Ya'1i 23, 9; 28, 15.
is called 'isnad lafzi-Vl when the predicate is ascribed to the 145 Note that the term xabar, which usually denotes the
lafz, i.e., to the word itself, and not to the sense expressed by predicate of a nominal sentence (see, for example, Zamax~ari
it. 'AbU Hayyan's examples for 'isnad lafziyy are: zaydun 12, 16; Reckendorf 1, 11-12), sometimes denotes the verbal
LuldLiyyun, "Zayd is a triliteral noun"; daraba fi'lun madT predicate in sentences beginning with a verb, as in the
(sic!), ".daraba is a verb in the past tense"; min harfujarrin, example qcma zayjdun (= "Zayd stood"). See 'Ibn Ya'cT 1 23,
min is a preposition" ('Abli Hayydn 4, 17-18). 4-9; 1 28, 4-6. See also 'Ibn Sarraj 1 39, 10-11.
'Abli Hayydn's statement that al-'isndd may be interpreted
146 DIbn Sarraj 1 63, 7-12; Jahn 1/3 14, 25 (al-Sirafi's usage);
either as al- 'isnad 'ilayhi or as al- 'isnad 'ila gayrihi (see 'AbN Jurjani 2, article al- Dibtida D.
Hayyan 4, 10-11) does not refer to the term 'isndd in the sense 147 See DIbn Sarraj 1 58, 4; 58, 6; 63, 11; 81, 8.
in which it occurs in the later sources, and hence does not 148 See above 4.3.
contradict the assumption that in these sources 'isnid is 149 See, for example, DIbn Ya'cT I 101, 11-14; DIbn Hi~dm,
equivalent to 'isnad 'ilayhi. The above mentioned statement Sudur 184, 3-5.
derives from the ancient views of the musnad and the musnad 150DIbn Jinni 10, 6-7; DIbn Ya'7s 1 28, 15.
'ilajhi, according to which the criterion for the distinction 151 See above V.
between the musnad and the musnad 'ilajhi is the word order 152 See DIbn 'AqlI 5, 1-3; DIbn Ya'T9 I 101, 6. See above V.
(see 'Abd Hayyan 4, 10-13; see above 11 and 111). 153 See DIbn Hisam, Qatr 3, 11-12; 3, 18-4, 3. al-hadt in this
139 For the translation of this definition see above 4.2.case is a masdar like Disnjd and Dixbhr. DIbn Higam, Qatr 3,
140 See above 4.2. 18-4, 3 expresses the notion that one of the characteristics of

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 162 Journal of the American Oriental Soeietv' 101.2 (1981)

Research is still necessary to determine whether
there are any differences between the terms mentioned
above. It can be understood from 'lbn Ya'cT that he
considers the application of the terms belonging to the
root s-n-d to be more generalized than that of the terms
deriving from the root .x-h-r; the terms based on the
root s-n-dl refer to the subject and predicate of all typesquh7b, are not considered as a musnad or a musnad
of sentences, while those belonging to the root x-b-r
refer only to the subject and predicate of the declara-
tive sentence, known as xabar.154
VII. SUMMARY AND) CONCLUSIONS
In the works of the Arab grammarians we find two
essential views of the musnad and the musnad 'ilavhi:
the ancient view held by Sibawayhi (eighth century)
parts are considered as a musnad and a musnad 'ilavhi
because, in the same way as the subject and predicate
of a nominal sentence, they are indispensable to the
structure of the sentence, and neither of them can exist
without the other. On the other hand, it is clear that
kdna, 'inna and their "sisters," as well as Dafcdl al-
'ila phi, for they are not indispensable to the structure
of the sentence; if they are dropped, we still get a
complete nominal sentence, consisting of a inusnad
and a musnad 'ila phi (see above 2.2).
According to al-Mubarrad, a combination of a
musnad and a musnad Vi/avhi also exists in both the
protasis and apodosis of a conditional sentence (see
above 2.2 (4)).

and most likely by al-Mubarrad (ninth century) (see According to STbawayhi the musnad is the first
above 11), and the later view which prevails in the indispensable part of the sentence, and the inusnad
sources beginning with the tenth century (see above 'ilaYhi is the second indispensable part. Hence, in a
IV). There is also a third view, which. however, is nominal sentence of the type zar'dun 'axzika, "Zayd is
hardly known (see above 111). your brother," the subject zavdun is the musnad and
According to STbawayhi and al-Mubarrad, both the the predicate Daxzika is the musnad Dila hi, while in a
nmusnad and the musnad Dilaf hi are two indispensableverbal sentence of the type yadhabu zavdun, "Zayd is
parts of the sentence. Therefore, it is impossible to going," the predicate Yadhabu is the musnad and the
form a sentence without them, and neither of them cansubject -avdun is the musnad Dila hi (see above 2.3).
exist without the other (see above 2.1). We do not know anything about al-Mubarrad's view
A combination of a musnad and a musnad Di/aihi is on this point. It is clear, then, that Sibawayhi's crite-
formed, according to Sibawayhi and al-Mubarrad, by rion for the distinction between the inusnad and the
the subject and predicate of the nominal sentence, and inusnad Dila ,Ii is their sequence in the sentence, and
by the predicate and subject of the verbal sentence (see not their syntactic function. The data found in
above 2.2 (1), (2)). According to al-Mubarrad such a Sibawayhi's al-Kitdb support Praetorius' view, based
combination is also formed by the 'issm and xabar of on sources other than Stbawayhi himself, that in
kana wsa axawaxtuhd, by the 'ism and xabar of Dinna Sibawayhi's al-Kitab the term musnad denotes the first
Ata Daxawqtuhd, and by the two direct objects of doubly indispensable part of the sentence, and the term
transitive verbs which belong to the category later musnad Dila hi denotes the second indispensable part.
known as Daf'dl al-quluih (see above 2.2(3) ). Sibawayhi On the other hand, these data refute the opinion held
also appears to believe that a combination of a musnad by Lane, Fleischer and Wright that Sibawayhi calls the
and a tnusnad 'ilaihi is formed in these cases (see subject musnad and the predicate musnad Dila 'hi (See
above 2.2). Lane IV 1444 A, 39-42; Fleischer II 88, 14-19; Wright
It should be noted that in sentences beginning with II 250, 15-16) (see also above 2.3).
kdna wa 'axawqtuhd, 'inna wa'axawdtuhd and 'af cdl The fact that the two direct objects of 'af'dala-qulu7b
al-qulu-b, the relation between the two parts of the are considered by al-Mubarrad a musnad and a
sentence which are considered to be a musnad and a mnusnad 'ilai hi is of great importance: it proves that
the musnad and the musnad 'ila phi are not necessarily
InIusnad 'i/avhi corresponds to the relation between the
subject and predicate in a nominal sentence. These subject and predicate. Two direct objects can also form
a combination of a musnad and a musnad 'ilaiphi as
long as each of them is indispensable to the structure of
the 'ism is the possibility of assigning a predicate to it, and he the sentence. The relation between them corresponds
here calls this characteristic al-hadft canhu, while elsewhere hein this case to the relation between the subject and
calls the same characteristic al- isndd 'ilavhi (see AIbn Hisam, predicate in a nominal sentence.
Sudfir 18, 9-13). It seems safe to assume that according to Sibawayhi's
114 See AIbn Yacls 1 22, 23-23, 4. See above V. view of the musnad and the musnad 'ilai'hi, musnad

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 LEVIN: The Grammatical Terms Al-Musnad, Al-Musnad Dllayhi and Al-Isnad 163

object of verbs like 'aclama is considered as a musnad,

must be interpreted literally as the synonym of sanad in
the sense of "a thing upon which something leans." shows that the musnad is not necessarily a predicate;
Hence, the meaning of musnad is "that [part of the even a direct object is called musnad in cases where this
direct object relates to another direct object as a
sentence] upon which [the part called musnad 'ila'Vhi]
leans." The literal meaning of musnad 'ila vhi, which is predicate relates to a subject.
the personal passive participle form of 'asnadahu 'ild The literal meaning of al-musnad and al-musnad
in the sense of "to lean something against or upon," is 'ilavhi in the later sources also differs from the literal
"that which leans upon it" [i.e., upon the musnad]. meaning of these terms in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab. In the
Hence, the meaning of musnad 'ila hi is "that [part of later sources, the term al-musnad 'ilav hi must be
the sentence] which leans upon [the part called interpreted as the impersonal passive participle of the
musnad]." This interpretation of the literal meaning of verb 'asnadahu /ilJ in the sense of "to ascribe some-
the terms musnad and musnad 'ila hi in Sibawayhi's thing to," while the term al-musnad must be inter-
al-Kitab is supported by the later sources which refer preted as the personal passive participle of the same
to Sibawayhi's view, and agrees with Praetorius' opin- verb. Literally, al-musnad 'ilavhi means "that to which
ion on this point (see above 2.4). something is ascribed," and al-musnad "that which is
A view that the musnad 'ilav hi is the first part of the ascribed to (something)." Hence, al-musnad 'ila vhi is
sentence and the musnad is the second part is briefly the subject, i.e., the part of the sentence to which the
mentioned by al-Sirafi (tenth century) and 'Abfi predicate is ascribed, and al-musnad is the predicate,
Hayyan (fourteenth century) who at the same time i.e., the part of the sentence which is ascribed to the
touch on the other views of the musnad and the subject (see above 4.2).
musnad 'ila vhi (see above Ill). Although the meaning In Sibawayhi's al-Kitab, and in the eighteenth cen-
of the terms musnad and musnad Vi/avhi in this view is tury dictionary Taj al-cAriis, 'usnida /ila occurs as
an inversion of that in Sibawayhi's al-Kitab, the crite- a grammatical expression in the sense of to "become
rion for the distinction between the two terms is the the musnad 'ila hi [of a certain musnad]," i.e., to
same, being based on the sequence of the musnad and become the second indispensable part of the sentence
the musnad Vi/a phi in the sentence, and not on their (see above 4.3).
syntactic function. In the sources from the tenth to fifteenth centuries
In the later sources, from the tenth to the fifteenth 'asnadahu Dild occurs as a technical grammatical
century, the attitude to the musnad and the musnad expression meaning "to assign a predicate to a subject"
'ilaphi is completely different from that of Sibawayhi.(see also 4.3). 'asnadahu uild in this sense has devel-
In these sources the term musnad denotes the predicate oped from 'asnada al-s'a 'a uild, "to ascribe something
and the term musnad Vi/avhi denotes the subject of all to" (see above 4.2). The passive form of 'asnadahu uild,
types of sentences. In these sources the criterion for the Dusnida jila is used in the sense of "to be assigned as a
distinction between the two terms is the syntactic predicate to," and its personal passive participle form,
function of the musnad and the musnad 'ila vhi respec- musnad Dila, occurs in the sense of "that which is
tively, while the word order becomes irrelevant (see assigned as a predicate to." When the bound pronoun
above 4.1). of the third person singular masculine is suffixed to
It should be noted that according to Dlbn 'AqTl the musnad uild in this sense, we get the form musnad
term musnad denotes, apart from the predicate, also
Dilavhi. This form must be distinguished from musnad
the xahar of kana wa'axawdtuhd, the xabar of 'innaDila/Mi as a technical term which is in itself an imper-
wa Daxawdtuhd, the second accusative of doubly transi- sonal passive participle, and which denotes "a subject"
tive verbs which belong to the category known as (see above 4.31).
Daf'dl al-qulhb, and the third accusative of verbs likeNote that Dasnadahu Dild, 'usnida DilJ and musnad
Da'lama which take three direct objects. In all these'ild, in the sense discussed above, do not occur in
cases the relation between the part of the sentence Sibawayhi's al-Kitab.
called musnad and one of the other parts of the In the later sources we find also that the masdar of
sentence corresponds to the relation between a predi- 'asnada 'ild, which is at- Disnid 'ild or al- 'isnid,
cate and a subject in a nominal sentence. The part denotes "the assignment of the predicate to the subject"
called musnad is that which corresponds to the predi- (see above V). 'Ibn cAqTl even interprets a/-Disnad
cate of the nominal sentence. The fact that the second Dilayhi by al-J ixbdr 'anhu, which also denotes "the
direct object of Dqf'Cl al-qulhb, and the third direct assignment of the predicate to the subject" (see above

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 164 Journal of the American Oriental Society 101.2 (1981)

V). al-'isnid 'ilayhi or al-'isnid is said to be a
characteristic of the 'ism, as the 'ism is the only part of
speech to which a predicate can be assigned. It is
impossible to assign a predicate to the two other parts
of speech-the verb (=fi'l) and the particle (=harf)
(see above V).
The prevailing view that 'isnid denotes the relation
between the subject and the predicate must be rejected
on the basis of the data in the later sources (see above
V).
We find a correspondence in the later sources be-
tween grammatical terms deriving from the roots s-n-d,
x-b-r and h-d-t. Thus, for example, the subject is called
al-musnad 'ila}'hi, al-muxbar canhu and al-muhaddat
canhu, and the predicate is called al-musnad, al-xabar
and al-hadlt. For other examples of this correspon-
dence see above VI. Research has still to be undertaken
to determine whether there are any conceptual dif-
ferences between the terms which belong to these three
roots (see above VI).
'Ibn Hiam, Sudiir ='Ibn Hisam, 'Abui Muhammad 'Abdallah
Jamal al-DTn al-'Ansdar. ?arh ?udi7r al-Dahabfir Ma'rifat
Kalum al-'Arab. Ed. Muhammad Muhyl al-Din 'Abd al-
Hamid (Cairo [n.d.]).
'Ibn Jinni, = 'bn JinnT, cUtman. Kitaib al-Lumac'fTal-Nahu
(Manuel de grammaire arabe). Edite et annote par Hadi
M. Kechrida. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Studia
Semitica Upsaliensia 3 (Upsala, 1976).
'Ibn Sarraj = 'bn al-Sarraj, 'Abu Bakr. Kitab al-'Usalf al-
Nahw, Ed. cAbd al-Husayn al-FatalT, Vol. I (al-Najaf, 1973);
Vol. II (Baghdad, 1973).
Ibn Ya'cs='Ibn YacT?, 'Abiu al-Baqa'. Ibn Ja'rs Commentar
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'Ibn Ya cT, (Cairo = 'Ibn Ya cT, garh al-Mufassal, Parts 1-10.
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