Origins of Arabic Grammar

In the Fihrist, Ibn al-Nadim transmits different accounts of the beginning of Arabic grammar. ²

He notes that most scholars claimed that grammar was taken from Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali, and that Abu al-Aswad took it from Ali ibn Abi Talib (may God be pleased with him). Others said that Nasr ibn Asim al-Du'ali set down its rules. Ibn Lahi'a relates from Abu al-Nadr that Abd al-Rahman ibn Hurmuz al-A'raj was the first to lay down the principles of Arabic. ²

He transmits from Ibn Rustam al-Tabari that grammar was called nahw because Abu al-Aswad asked Ali's permission to make a "nahw" (a way or manner) like the one he had made. ²

He transmits from Abu Ubayda that Ziyad asked Abu al-Aswad for a work that would be a guide for the people. Abu al-Aswad excused himself until he heard a reader read with a kasra where a damma belonged, and said that he had not thought the matter had reached this point. He then returned and wrote the chapter on the subject and the object. Another report is transmitted from the words of Sa'd al-Farisi about his horse. ²

The description of Abu al-Aswad's pointing: a dot above the letter for the fatha, in front of it for the damma, below it for the kasra, and two dots for the nasalisation. ²

In this summary Ibn al-Nadim does not prefer one report over another. What is not recorded here: the preference of the modern scholars. It needs a further source.