Reason Behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) being Named Ummi

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) has been called by Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) in the Qur’aan as الأمي “Ummi”, which can be translated as “unlettered, illiterate, uneducated”. Now, amongst the Muslims in today’s society it seems as if they are trying their very hardest to make it seem as if the Prophet could read and write before or after revelation, in an attempt to make him an academic scholar so to say.

This is very wrong, alHamdulillaah, we have our Imaaams to tell us what it is if we are confused on any matters. This word “Ummi” was seen as very confusing even during the times of the Imaams. There is a whole chapter dedicated in Al-Sadooq’s book Ilal Al-Sharaa’i`, that is titled “Chapter on the reason that the Prophet was named Ummi”.

In this chapter, Al-Sadooq has incorporated 8 aHaadeeth from our Imaams. A lot of aHaadeeth contradict each other, some of them say that he could “read and write in 72 or 73 languages”, or he could do it “in every language”, all of those aHaadeeth are Da`eef (weak). In fact, all of the aHaadeeth are weak for various reasons, except for one hadeeth that has an impeccable chain.

These aHaadeeth refer to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) after he received revelation, that he used to (or, would) read/recite but not write, these do not refer to him before the revelation.

In this blog post, I will show you the view of the Imaams on the word “Ummi” through a SaHeeH narration.

(Taken from my personal copy of Al-Sadooq’s Ilal Al-Sharaa’i`, vol. 1, pg. 127)

(Click to enlarge)

باب العلة التي من أجلها سمي النبي ص الأمي

“Chapter on the reason for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) being named Al-Ummi”

حدثنا محمد بن الحسن رضي الله عنه قال حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله قال حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى عن الحسين بن سعيد و محمد بن خالد البرقي عن محمد بن أبي عمير عن هشام بن سالم عن أبي عبد الله ع قال كان النبي ص يقرأ الكتاب و لا يكتب

From Hishaam bin Saalim from Abee `Abd Allaah (عليه السلام) said: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to (or, would) read/recite the book, but not write.”

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Ilal Al-Sharaa’i`, vol. 1, ch. 105, pg. 126, hadeeth # 6

Here is another hadeeth that is Da`eef  ALMOST Muwaththaq (Reliable), but it is not Muwaththaq because it turns mursal (disconnected) at the end of the chain of narrators. Also, the narrator Mu`aawiyah bin Hukaym is thiqah (trustworth), but he is said to be of the faTHee faith (another sect within Shee`ah islaam). This hadeeth also attests to the SaHeeH narration that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) could read but not write.

أبي رحمه الله قال حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله قال حدثني معاوية بن حكيم عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر عن بعض أصحابه عن أبي عبد الله ع قال كان مما من الله عز و جل على رسول الله ص أنه كان يقرأ و لا يكتب فلما توجه أبو سفيان إلى أحد كتب العباس إلى النبي ص فجاءه الكتاب و هو في بعض حيطان  المدينة فقرأه و لم يخبر أصحابه و أمرهم أن يدخلوا المدينة فلما دخلوا المدينة أخبرهم

“It was from Allaah (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) onto the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) that he used to (or, would) read/recite, but not write. The time when Aboo Sufyaan headed for Uhud, Al-`Abbaas (the Prophet’s uncle), wrote to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). And he received the letter when he was within one of the walls of Madeenah. He read it, but did not tell his companions. He ordered them to enter the city, (then) he informed them (the contents of the letter).”

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Ilal Al-Sharaa’i`, vol. 1, ch. 105, pg. 125 - 126