Historically the Arabs were unbeaten in compiling lexicons except for a few ancient nations which had deep rooted cultural heritage like the ancient Indians, the Greek, the Chinese and egyptians.
The Arabic lexicon like other branches of linguistic studies only came about after the emergence of Islam due to it being one of the fruits of the study of the Quran for this reason it was able to open a seperate path for itslef since its emergence. It was also able to establish for itself the excellence and distinction that made it compete with the lexicons of other nations.
This excellence was the result of four factors:
1. The early concept for work on a lexicon such that the first complete dictionary appeared in the middle of the 2nd century Hijri ( 8th century C.E) at the hands of the linguistic scholar AlKhaleel bin Ahmed Alfaraheedi (100-175 H).
2. The uniquness which was not present in the lexicons of other nations, which is the recording of the linguistic material in a comprehensive form, and its explanation in an organised method at a time when the other nation's lexicons were merely lists for the explanation of uncommon and difficult words.
3. The multitude of Arabic lexicons that appeared throughout the years and centuries so much so that counting them is almost impossible.
4. The variation in the appearances of the Arabic lexicons in such a way that all rational possibilities of arrangements are exhausted as illustrated in the following list:
Type of lexicon and examples for each one:
1- Lexicon of meanings or subjects:
-a- AlGhareeb AlMusanaf by Abi Ubayd Alqasim bin Sallam ( 157-224 H)
-b- AlMukhasas by Ibn Seeda (398-458 H)
2-Lexicons vocally arranged :
-a- AlAyn by AlKhalil bin Ahmed (100-175H)
-b- Tahtheeb AlLugha by AlAzhari (282-370H)
3- Lexicons of structure and measures:
-a- Dewan AlAdab by AlFarabi
-b- Shams aluloom by Nashwan Bin Saeed AlHimyari (467-538H)
4. Lexicons of alphabetical order according to the beginning of the words:
-a- AlJeem by Abu Amr AShaybani (94-206H)
-b- Asaas AlBalagha by AZmakhshari (467-538H)
-c- AlMisbah AlMuneerby AlFuyumi ( - 770H)
5- Lexicons of alphabetical order according to the ending of the words:
-a- ASihaah by AlJohari ( - 393H)
-b- Lisan AlArab by Ibn Manthoor (630- 711H)
(Dar AlMaarif AlMisriya have published a copy which has been arranged in alphabetical order according to the beginning of the words)
-c- AlQamoos AlMuheet by AlFayrozabadi (729- 817H)
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