Scribal Errors and Textual Corruptions in the Printed Edition of Kitāb al-Jīm by Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī (d. 206 AH): Unattributed Poetic Citations as a Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.12137Keywords:
Lexicon, Kitāb al-Jīm, al-Shaybānī, textual corruption, scribal error, poetic citation.Abstract
Objectives: This study investigates a selection of textual passages from Kitāb al-Jīm, one of the earliest and most important Arabic lexicons, and reassesses scholarly judgments based on distorted or corrupted poetic citations, particularly those unique to this work and unattested elsewhere.
Methods: An inductive–analytical approach was employed. Relevant poetic citations were systematically traced, classified, and analyzed. Textual and interpretive issues raised by these citations were also addressed, providing deeper insights into their nature and generating meaningful findings.
Results: The study demonstrates the prevalence of scribal errors and textual corruptions in the printed edition of Kitāb al-Jīm. These findings underscore the need for a new critical edition prepared by qualified specialists, drawing on sources published since the book’s initial edition nearly half a century ago, and employing modern digital technologies to enhance accuracy and comparison.
Conclusions: The research concludes that widespread textual corruptions within Kitāb al-Jīm have compromised much of its scholarly utility, limiting both its reliability and the acceptance of judgments based on its citations. Nevertheless, the lexicon remains valuable for its rich linguistic material, including numerous rare lexical items—particularly those concerning tribal dialects and Bedouin speech.
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