The Hornet question(Al-Mas’alah Al-Zunbooriyyah) A Unique Version in Different Narration

Abstract

This version of the hornet question is worth investigating because it is different from what is widely known among specialists, such as Seebawayh’s choice (nominative). Also, it is quoted from what was written by Al-Imam Al-Zamakhshari in his version of Seebawayh’s book and assigned to Al-Mubarrad; its declension is also attributed to Abu Bakr Ibn Al-Anbaari, and for some other reasons mentioned in details under the topic 'the scientific value of the version'. When mentioning the' hornet question', the debate between Al-Kisaa’i and Seebawayh comes to mind when Seebawayh chose the nominative case (hiya) in the famous example: ("Zhanantu al-zunboor ashaddu las`atan mina al-aqrab, fa idha huwa hiya aw fa idha huwa iyyaaha"i.e. I thought the hornet (Al-Zunboor) sting was stronger than thescorpion sting, but they were the same). However, the Bedouins (Al-A`raab) brought evidence against him and consequently he died out of grief and wretchedness.

Grammar books have dealt with the (nominative) and (accusative) cases in the Arabic pronouns (hiya – iyyaaha) but the researcher could not find a reference to Seebawayh choosing the accusative case (huwa iyyaaha), except what Dr. Muhammad Al-Baatil mentioned in his research (The Hornet question) which was published in the Journal of King Saud University, in 1418 AH, based on Abu Hayyaan Al-Andalusi's book (Tadhkirat Al-NuHah). This opinion is supported by the letter dictated by Abu Al-Hajjaaj Yoosuf Ibn Sulaymaan, known as Al-A`lam Al-Shantamri who died in 476 AH, in which he mentioned the narrators' disagreement regarding Seebawayh’s choice.