The Nahwu Thought of Ibn Malik: A Historical-Analytical Study of Its Contribution to Arabic Learning in Indonesia

Mohammad Zaelani Musonif; Fathun Mubarrok; Radiah Justik; Mohamad Maftuh Fauzi

doi:10.31000/b0w4nr07

Authors

Mohammad Zaelani Musonif International Open University
Fathun Mubarok International Open University
Radiah Justika International Open University
Mohamad Maftuh Fauzi Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Syariah Putera Bangsa Tegal, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31000/b0w4nr07

Keywords:

Alfiyah Ibn Malik, Arabic Language Learning, Nahwu Thought

Abstract

The study of nahwu plays a crucial role in Arabic language learning by ensuring accurate understanding of texts. Among prominent scholars, Ibn Malik holds a significant position through his Alfiyah, a grammatical work widely studied in Indonesia. His grammatical thought has been examined by numerous Islamic educational institutions across the country. However, limited attention has been given to Ibn Malik’s historical contribution to Arabic language learning in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the epistemological foundations of Ibn Malik’s nahwu thought and examine its influence on Arabic language education in Indonesia. The research employs a qualitative approach based on historical analysis and library research, the study draws on primary sources, particularly Alfiyah Ibn Malik and Al-Madāris al-Naḥwiyyah, supported by relevant books and scholarly articles. Data were analyzed using content analysis, focusing on identifying Ibn Malik’s grammatical framework and its educational implications. The findings reveal that Ibn Malik’s thought is grounded in three main principles: the acceptance of hadith as grammatical evidence (istishhād), the balanced application of qiyās between the Basrah and Kufah schools, and reliance on primary linguistic causality while avoiding excessive speculative reasoning. Ibn Malik’s thought influenced Arabic education in Indonesia through Alfiyah in pesantren curricula and poetic nahwu works, including Javanese Al-Ajrumiyyah by Shaykh Mahmud Mukhtar Al-Bode and Sundanese Al-Ajrumiyyah by KH. Ishaq Farid. The study concludes that Ibn Malik’s intellectual legacy has profoundly shaped both the scholarly tradition and pedagogical practices of Arabic language education in Indonesia.

References

Abbah, W. (2008). Târîkh an-Nahwi al-‘Arabiy fi al-Masyriq wa al-Maghrib. Dar al-Kutub al-’Ilmiyyah.

Abdullah, Islam, M. A. M., & Thohir, M. A. (2021). Kiai dan ALfiyah: Merajut Jaringan Intelektual Bidang Linguistik Arab di Dunia Pesantren (I. Subkhi (ed.); Cet. I). Adabia Press.

Abedalaziz, M. (2024). The Rhetorical Issues in Ibn Aqīl’s Commentary on Ibn Malik’s Alfiyyah and Their Impact on Directing Quranic Meanings and Indications. Albayan, 22(2), 318–345. https://doi.org/10.1163/22321969-20240155

Adlini, M. N., Dinda, A. H., Yulinda, S., Chotimah, O., & Merliyana, S. J. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Studi Pustaka. Edumaspul: Jurnal Pendidikan. https://doi.org/10.33487/edumaspul.v6i1.3394

Akbar, J., & Abdul Hakim. (2024). Poetic Interpretation of the Qur’an: A Critical Study of Tafsir Al-Mubarok by Taufiqul Hakim. Journal of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought, 2(2 SE-Articles), 205–233. https://doi.org/10.15642/juit.2024.2.2.205-233

Al-Kaladi, A. A. S. (2024). Grammatical Evidence for the Present Tense in Sahih Al-Bukhari (a descriptive and analytical study). In Journal of Social Studies (Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 153–172). https://doi.org/10.20428/jss.v30i2.2403

Al mashaqaba, F. suliman muslim. (2024). “Linguistic Evidence on Issues of Disagreement Between the Kufans and The Basrans.” Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(4 SE-Articles), 1988–1997. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i4.3733

Aminah, S., Arfah, S., Sumaiah, S., & Siregar, H. H. (2026). The Epistemology of Classical Arabic Grammar: From Bashrah–Kufah Paradigm Shifts to Contemporary Linguistics. Al Ibrah: Journal of Arabic Language Education, 9(1 SE-Articles), 292–309. https://doi.org/10.24256/jale.v9i1.10941

Arif, M. A. (2022). Al-Qiyās Dan Istiṣḥāb Al-Ḥāl Dalam Menetapkan Kaidah-Kaidah Naḥwu Aliran Al-Baṣrah. Jurnal Sarjana Ilmu Budaya, 2(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12259/jsib.v2i1%20.20190

Arifuddin. (2013). Akademi Ilmu Tata Bahasa Arab di Andalusia: Kronologi dan Kontribusi. Jurnal CMES, VI(1), 77–92. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.20961/cmes.6.1.11692

Ashar, A. M., & Hamzah, A. A. (2025). The Authority of Al-Sima’ in Ushul An-Nahwi: An Analysis of Al-Suyuthi’s Thought in the Book Al-Iqtirah: Otoritas Al-Sima’ dalam Ushul An-Nahwi: Analisis Pemikiran Al-Suyuthi dalam Kitab Al-Iqtirah. Al-Wasil, 3(1), 38–45. https://doi.org/10.30762/alwasil.v3i1.5530

Cahyadi, I., Yunani, A., Dachlan, M., & Suhendra, A. (2025). The Sociology of Knowledge in Pesantren: Sanad, Sorogan-Bandongan, and the Making of Intellectual Authority. Al-Tahrir Jurnal Pemikiran, 25(2), 439–462. https://doi.org/10.21154/tahrir.v25i2.10952

Cholid, C. (2022). Model NURS sebagai Alternatif Pembelajaran Keterampilan Membaca Bahasa Arab. Takuana: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sains, Dan Humaniora, 1(1), 26–39. https://doi.org/10.56113/takuana.v1i1.30

Daud, A., Rasyid, D., Daud, B., Sahyar, A., & Lubis, A. (2025). The Contribution of Indonesian Hadits Scholar Mahfûz Al-Termasi on Tsabat : A Study Of Kifayat Al-Mustafid. MIQOT: Jurnal Ilmi-Ilmu Kesilaman, 49(1), 248–268.

Ḍayyif, S. (1968). al-Madaris an-Nahwiyyah. Dār al-Ma’ārif.

Didin, Tohirin, Basirin, & Sumadi. (2026). The Authority of Knowledge and Teacher-Student Relations: An Epistemological Analysis of Islamic Education Based on Kitab Kuning. ALSYS: Jurnal Keislaman Dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 6(1), 693–705.

Fathoni, A. N., Hakim, M. L., Cahyono, A. M., Mukti, A., Bahrudin, M., & Evannathan, M. F. (2025). Local Interpretation of The Archipelago and Preservation of Cultural Identity: Epistemological and Cultural Analysis and Revitalization Strategies in The Era of Globalization. In West Science Islamic Studies (Vol. 3, Issue 02, pp. 161–171). https://doi.org/10.58812/wsiss.v3i02.2510

Fauz, N. A. (2017). Nazham Al-Ajrumiyyah Jawa dari Cirebon Ini Jadi Kurikulum Nahwu di Banyak Pesantren. NU Online. https://www.nu.or.id/pustaka/nazham-al-ajrumiyyah-jawa-dari-cirebon-ini-jadi-kurikulum-nahwu-di-banyak-pesantren-8rgm0

Fitrianto, I., Al-faruqi, M. R., & Hanifah, N. A. (2025). The Contributions of Ibn Malik to Arabic Language Education : A Historical and Pedagogical Analysis. IJAS International Journal of Arabic Stuides, 2(1), 1–11. https://ojs.bustanilmu.com/index.php/IJAS/article/view/75

Fukara, I. M. H. (2024). The Impact of Quranic Readings on Alfiyya of Ibn Malik’s Grammar Systems. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 51(5), 565–576. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v51i5.5123

Fukara, I. M. H. (2025). Ibn Malik’s Impact on Masabih al-Jami’ by al-Damamini. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 52(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v52i3.6765

García-Díaz, M. (2025). Testimonio Methodology: A Systematic Analysis of the Data Collection Methods. Journal of Latinos and Education, 24(3), 743–759. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2024.2399592

Hakim, I. (2021). Biografi Imam Ibnu Malik. Laduni.Id Layanan Dokumentasi Ulama Dan Keislaman. https://www.laduni.id/post/read/35191/biografi-imam-ibnu-malik

Harianto, N., Jufri, S., Huda, R. F., & Afria, R. (2025). Menelusuri Dalil Nahwu Sebagai Landasan Ilmiah Tata Bahasa Arab. Uktub: Journal of Arabic Studies., 5(1), 71–88.

Hasanov, U. (2026). The Role Of The Work “Sharh Mulla” In The Development Of The Arabic Language In Mawarannahr. The Journal of Interdisciplinary Human Studies, 2(9), 382–390. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.57033/mijournals-2026-9-0227

Husniyah, A., Yulianto, Y., & Zakiyah, M. (2026). Pegon as vernacular heritage literacy: a qualitative study in East Java Pesantren. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2026.2635642

Ihsanudin. (2017). Sejarah Perkembangan Mazhab Nahwu Arab (Sebuah Tinjauan Historis). Jurnal Thaqafiyyat, 18(1), 71–85. https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/adab/thaqafiyyat/id/article/view/1309

Ivanovich, V. V. (2025). Features of The Historical Analysis of The Developmnet of Society. JURNAL HISTORICA. https://doi.org/10.19184/jhis.v9i1.51975

Jaeni, M. (2017). Tafsiran Kiai Pesantren terhadap Bait-Bait Nadham Alfiyah Sebagai Media Hapalan, Kajian Bahasa Dan Transformasi Nilai-Nilai Moral Santri (Kajian Intertekstualitas dan Analisis Wacana Kritis). Ihya Ulum Al-Din, 19(2), 285–316. https://doi.org/10.21580/ihya.19.2.2510

Jaya, G. P., Warsah, I., & Istan, M. (2023). Kiat Penelitian Dengan Model Pendekatan Telaah Kepustakaan. Tik Ilmeu : Jurnal Ilmu Perpustakaan Dan Informasi. https://doi.org/10.29240/tik.v7i1.6494

Khairunnisa, A., Pribadi, M., & Sugiyono, S. (2024a). Dasar Pemikiran Ibnu Malik Serta Representasi Pemikiran Basrah Dalam Kitab Alfiyahnya. Al Mi’yar: Jurnal Ilmiah Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Dan Kebahasaaraban, 7(1), 481–500. https://doi.org/10.35931/ am.v7i1. 3176

Khairunnisa, A., Pribadi, M., & Sugiyono, S. (2024b). Epistemologi Pemikiran Ibnu Malik dan Representasi Pemikiran Basrah Dalam Kitab Alfiyahnya. Al Mi’yar: Jurnal Ilmiah Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Dan Kebahasaaraban, 7(1), 481–500.

Kleinheksel, A., Rockich-Winston, N., Tawfik, H., & Wyatt, T. (2020). Demystifying Content Analysis. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 84. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7113

Lubis, P. (2018). Pembelajaran Nahwu dengan Nazham Alfiyah Ibn Malik (Studi Kasus di Pondok Pesantren Baitul Hikmah Haurkuning Tasik Malaya). Jurnal Kajian Dam Pengembangan Umat, 1(1), 25–42. https://jurnal.umsb.ac.id/index.php/ummatanwasathan/article/view/1117

Mahfud, C., Astari, R., Kasdi, A., Mu’ammar, M. A., Muyasaroh, M., & Wajdi, F. (2021). Islamic cultural and Arabic linguistic influence on the languages of Nusantara; From lexical borrowing to localized Islamic lifestyles. Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia, 22(1), 224–248.

Malik, I. (1984). Syawāhid al-Tawḍīh wa al-Taṣhīh li Musykilāt al-Jāmi` al- Ṣaḥīh. Maktabah Ibnu Taymiyah.

Mar‘ī, M. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, Al-Ḥāj, T. A. A., & Yusoff, Z. M. (2023). Al-Balāghah wa al-Naḥw wa Dawruhumā fī Fahm Dalālat al-Naṣṣ al-Qur’ānī: Sharḥ Ibn ‘Aqīl ‘alā Alfiyyat Ibn Mālik Namūdhajan. Qur’ānica: International Journal of Quranic Research, 15(1), 528–556. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22452/quranica.vol15no1.17

Mar’ī, M. A.-A., Alhaj, T. A. A., & Yusoff, Z. M. (2023). The Role of Rhetoric and Grammar in Understanding the Connotation of the Quranic Text: Using the Explanation of Ibn ‘Aqil on the Alfiya of Ibn Malik as a Model. Quranica, 15(1 Special issue 10), 528–556. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85218772560&partnerID=40&md5=4b7c939144c9d2baad36404342ab3f2c

Mastufah, S., Ridha, A. P. S., Fatmawati, R., Sonia, D. M., Fahmi, M. N., Fitriyani, A., Aulia, S., Riza, M., Fauji, A., & Fauji, M. R. A. (2020). Kupas Tuntas Syarh Al-Tashil (A. S. Milah (ed.); Cet. I). Qalamniora Press.

Maulidiyah, L., Sulaikho, S., & Ni’am, F. (2024). Strategi Merancang Materi Nahwu Kreatif dan Menarik Berbasis Konten Instagram. Cordova Journal Language and Culture Studies, 14(2), 61–77. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.20414/cordova.v14i2.10026

More, D. (2023). Historical Method: A Critical Review. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2023.49198

Mukhtar, M. al-. (2008). Tarikh An-nahwi al-’arabiy fii al-Musyriq wa al-Maghrib. Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah.

Nuraini, N. (2024). Analyzing Hadith Sanad Validity: Steps to Assess Acceptance and Authenticity. El-Sunan: Journal of Hadith and Religious Studies, 2(1), 56–69. https://doi.org/10.22373/el-sunan.v2i1.5463

Qomaruddin, Q., & Sa’diyah, H. (2024). Kajian teoritis tentang teknik analisis data dalam penelitian kualitatif: Perspektif Spradley, Miles dan Huberman. Journal of Management, Accounting, and Administration, 1(2), 77–84. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52620/jomaa.v1i2.93

Rahman, A. A. (2010). Sejarah Ilmu Nahwu dan Perkembangannya. Adabiyah, X(35), 98–109. https://journal.uin-alauddin.ac.id/index.php/adabiyah/article/view/5688

Rahman, A., Haniefa, R., & Kafidhoh, S. (2024). Analisis Materi Sintaksis Dalam Kitab Nahwu Wadhih Serta Relevansinya Terhadap Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab. JIM-PBA-STAINI, 2(1), 35–50. https://jim.stai-nuruliman.ac.id/index.php/jimpba/article/view/3

Ramdiani, Y. (2015). Kajian Historis; Perkembangan Ilmu Nahwu Mazhab Basrah. El-Hikam, 8(2), 293-â. https://ejournal.kopertais4.or.id/sasambo/index.php/elhikam/article/view/1394

Rizal, E. (2021). Pemikiran Ibnu Malik tentang Istisyhad dengan Hadis dalam Masalah Nahwu. Studi Arab, 12(2), 103–119. https://doi.org/10.35891/sa.v12i2.2751

Rohman, A., Maksum, A., & Wargadinata, W. (2025). The Spiritualization of Arabic Grammar: Theological Meaning-Making of Nahwu in a Salaf Pesantren in Indonesia. Teosofi: Jurnal Tasawuf Dan Pemikiran Islam, 15(2), 483–507. https://doi.org/10.15642/teosofi.2025.15.2.483-507

Roziqi, A. K., & Bakar, M. Y. A. (2025). Epistemologi Ilmu Nahwu: Studi Ilmu Tata Bahasa dalam Perspektif Filsafat Ilmu. Al-Fakkaar, 6(1), 56–75. https://doi.org/10.52166/alf.v6i1.7983

Saeful Milah, A. (2009). Otorisasi Hadits Sebagai Sumber Kaidah Bahasa (Studi Analisis Pemikiran Ibnu Mâlik dalam Pembentukan Kaidah Nahwu). In Tesis. Sekolah Pascasarjana. UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

Sobirin, M., & Muhdi, A. (2026). Textual Legacies of Javanese-Penginyongan Pesantren: : A Codicological Study of Kitab Kuning Manuscripts (1890s–1970s). Millati: Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities, 11(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.18326/millati.v11i1.5845

Solehudin, M., & Hanifansyah, N. (2024). Pedagogical Insights from Al-Mawahib Al-Rabbaniyah: Enhancing Arabic Grammar Learning through the Nazm of Al-Ajrumiyyah. لســـانـنــا (LISANUNA): Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa Arab Dan Pembelajarannya, 14(2), 165–184. https://doi.org/10.22373/ls.v14i2.26656

Sumaila, M., & Isnayanti. (2025). Kaidah Isnad Hadis: Telaah Sistem Periwayatan Dalam Perspektif ‘Ulumul Hadis. El-Mizzi: Julrnal Ilmu Hadis, 4(Desember), 62–73.

Supriadi, D., Hasbullah, M., & Adam, F. M. (2026). The Contribution of Sundanese Ulama in the Maintenance of Pegon Script as an Islamic Intellectual Tradition in Indonesia. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 24(1), 175–212. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v24i1.1376

Sya’ban, A. G. (2020). Kitab Nazam al-Ajurumiyyah Berbahasa Sunda Karya KH. Ishaq Farid Cintawana (Tasikmalaya). Alif.Id. https://alif.id/read/ahmad-ginanjar/kitab-nazam-al-ajurumiyyah-berbahasa-sunda-karya-kh-ishaq-farid-cintawana-tasikmalaya-b225828p/

Taha, M. W., & Taleb, T. J. (2022). The Manifest in verbs conjugation of the explanations in the explanations of the Alfyya of Ibn of Malik until the end of the tenth century AH.: An Analytical study. Res Militaris, 12(2), 5997–6008. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85142023299&partnerID=40&md5=024ed6d5c80a3044cac22173e55f470c

Thobib, M., & Amirudin, N. (2023). Implementasi Ilmu Nahwu Dan Sharaf Dalam Pembelajaran Kitab Fathul Qarib Di Madrasah Diniyah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Al-Ilmi, 6(2), 267–273. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32529/al-ilmi.v6i2.2653

Wahab, M. A. (2015). Kontroversi di Seputar Otentisitas Nahwu. Fakultas Ilmu Tarbiyah Dan Keguruan UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 1–18. https://repository.uinjkt.ac.id/dspace/bitstream/123456789/28297/3/MUHBIB ABDUL WAHAB-FITK.pdf

Yaacob, S. (2025). Arabic Grammar, Epistemology, and Civilizational Thought: A Philosophical Inquiry into Islamic Heritage. Senarai: Journal of Islamic Heritage and Civilization, 2(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.66236/senarai.2025.2.1.1-13

Yadav, D. (2021). Criteria for Good Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Review. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 31, 679–689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-021-00619-0

Z, I. F. K., & Ashoumi, H. (202 C.E.). Analisis Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Islam yang Terkandung dalam Makna Tersirat Nadzam Alfiyah Ibnu Malik dan Aktualisasinya Pada Konteks Pendidikan Islam Moderen. Attaqwa: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54069/attaqwa.v16i1.33

Zuhri, Z. (2022). Beyond Syncretism: Evidence of the Vernacularization of Islamic Theological Terms in Javanese Literature in the 19th Century. Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 60(2), 373–398.