The Meaning of “the Unlettered Nation”
Question
Who is meant by the “unlettered nation” (umma ummiyya)?
Answer
[ar]بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا، وَقِيلَ: نِسْبَةً إِلَى أُمِّ الْقُرَى؛ فَإِنْ قُلْتَ: الْعَرَبُ فِيهِمُ الْكَاتِبُ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَانُوا يَعْرِفُونَ الْحِسَابَ، قُلْتُ: إِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ، وَالْحِسَابُ حِسَابُ النُّجُومِ وَهُمْ لَا يَعْرِفُونَهُ[/ar] “He sent a messenger among the unlettered (ummiyyun)” (Surah al-Jumu‘a, 62:2, part of the verse)
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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