Principles of Listening in the book (The Seeker's Desire and the Desirous One's Approach to the Introduction of Ibn al-Hajib) by Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Khalidi (d. 880 AH): A Descriptive Grammatical Study

This research addresses the principles of samāʿ (oral transmission) in Al-Khalidi's Bughyat al-Ṭālib wa Munyat al-Rāghib ʿalā Muqaddimat Ibn al-Ḥājib. The study analyzes Al-Khalidi's use of evidence from the Holy Qur'an, the Prophet's Hadith, poetry, historical reports, and Arab proverbs, clarifying his citation method through textual examples.

Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, the study reveals that Al-Khalidi heavily relied on samāʿ for establishing grammatical rules, considering it the foremost foundation for argumentation and prioritizing it over other principles. He regarded it as a strong proof, following his Basran predecessors who had long adopted samāʿ as a foundational source. Furthermore, Al-Khalidi frequently criticized the views of the Kufans, which he deemed contrary to the attested speech of the Arabs. He also did not impose strict temporal or geographical limits on the Arab speech he used as evidence for grammatical rules.

The researcher found Al-Khalidi's book to be a rich and reliable source for codifying grammatical principles and reinforcing their authenticity through the validity and precision of samāʿ, which aids in the preservation and regulation of the Arabic language.