What is the meaning of the word "al-ummi," and does it occur with a meaning other than one who does not read or write, as in His saying, "It is He who sent among the unlettered a Messenger"?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you, what is the meaning of the word "al-ummi"?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Al-ummi is one who does not read or write.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Does it occur with a meaning other than this in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:2]?
The Shaykh : Yes, al-ummi is one who does not read or write, but according to the jurists, al-ummi is one who does not master al-Fatihah, even if he can read and write; if he does not master al-Fatihah, he is al-ummi. However, originally in the Arabic language, it refers to one who does not read or write, derived from "umm" (mother), as if he were born today, having just come out of his mother.
The questioner : And what is its meaning?
The Shaykh : As for[Al-Jumu'ah 62:2], he is a Messenger after he was sent.
The questioner : No, does "al-ummiyyin" here mean, do they refer to those who...
The Shaykh : "Al-ummiyyin" means by that the Arabs.
The questioner : The polytheists, for example.
The Shaykh : The Arabs in general; the Arabs did not know writing or reading, yes.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Al-ummi is one who does not read or write.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Does it occur with a meaning other than this in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger
هو الذي بعث في الأميين رسولًاThe Shaykh : Yes, al-ummi is one who does not read or write, but according to the jurists, al-ummi is one who does not master al-Fatihah, even if he can read and write; if he does not master al-Fatihah, he is al-ummi. However, originally in the Arabic language, it refers to one who does not read or write, derived from "umm" (mother), as if he were born today, having just come out of his mother.
The questioner : And what is its meaning?
The Shaykh : As for
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger
هو الذي بعث في الأميين رسولًاThe questioner : No, does "al-ummiyyin" here mean, do they refer to those who...
The Shaykh : "Al-ummiyyin" means by that the Arabs.
The questioner : The polytheists, for example.
The Shaykh : The Arabs in general; the Arabs did not know writing or reading, yes.