علم الزمن والوقت
Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Khalawayh Al-Hamadhani
The Grammarian who cared about time
(Died in 370 A.H/ 980 A.D)
Profile:
Ibn Khawlawi is a grammarian and a linguist scholar, to whom two books are attributed about time. However, they are not available as independent books; the first one is included in the book of “Laysa fi Kalam Al-Arab”, the second one is available as a summary issued by Al-Sakahwai, then Muhammad Ali Ata published the summary of Al-Sakhawi.
The book tackled time from a pure linguistic and dictionary approach, which does not mean the astronomical and scientific aspect, and does not refer to any sources, despite the fact that he lived and wrote books during the golden age of observation, astrology, and seasonal periods.
He cared about presenting evidence when necessary and refer to his original sources sometimes by indicating the names that are often related to the language like Al-Kisa’i and Al-Asmua’i.
For instance:
Al-Asma’i: the first day is called Bara and the plural is Abri’a”.
Biography:
He was among the few great grammar scholars, who held meetings and scientific research with Al-Mutanabbi, especially under the reign of Sayf Al-Dawla, and was his poet.
He was originally from Hamadhan. He visited Yemen and lived in Dhamar, before he moved to Levant and lived there, and died in Aleppo.
He wrote a book entitled “Laysa fi Kalam Al-Arab” where he indicated that he devoted every night for writing books, Explanation of Maqsurat Ibn Durayd, Mukhtasar fi Shaiwadh al-Qurʼan; Irab, Irab Thalathina Surah Mina Al-Qu’ran Al-Aziz (Morphology of Thirty Chapters of the Holy Qur’an); Al-Ishtqaq (Derivation), Al-Maqsour wa Al-Mamdud, Al-Badi’…
In time sciences, he stated in his book of “Laysa fi Kalam Al-Arab” that he has a book about “Asma’ Sa’at Al-Layl (the names of night hours)”, which includes one hundred and thirty names.
Muhammad Ali Ata provided valuable information about another book, in which he called “Kitab Al-Ayam Wa Al-Shuhur (The Book of Days and Months)” also called “Times”, however the book has no trace, but it was summarized by Ilm Al-Din Al-Sakhawi (died in 642 A.H) in his book “Safar Al-Saada wa Safir Al-Ifada”.
Dr. Muhammad Ali Ata cared about it and published it under the title: “Mukhtasar Kitab Al-Ayam wa Al-Shuhur (Summary of the book of Days and Months)”, which was summarized by by Ilm Al-Din Al-Sakhawi and published on the internet in the link of Alukah Library.
Sources:
Al-Zirikli: Al-Alem; volume 2/ P231. Sharqawi : Mujam Al-Alem, No. 613/ P124. “Mukhtasar Kitab Al-Ayam wa Al-Shuhur (Summary of the book of Days and Months)”, published by Muhammad Ali Ata on the following link:
https://www.alukah.net/literature_language/0/121331/
Written by: Dr. Mohamed Babaami
Translated by: Toufik Achour
Date: 17/06/2023
The Article title in Arabic: ابن خالويه
