{"fatawa":{"id":5958,"title":"Meanings of the word ummah in the Qur\u2019aan","slug":"meanings-of-the-word-ummah-in-the-quraan","order":"","question":"Whilst reading the Qur\u2019aan I have come across the word \u201cummah\u201d several times and I have the feeling that it has numerous meanings, not just one meaning. Is this correct? How should we understand this word?","answer":"
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Praise be to Allaah.  <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word ummah<\/em> is used in four senses in the Qur’aan: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

1 – The word ummah<\/em> is used to mean a period of time, as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meanings): <\/span><\/p>\r\n

“And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term [ila ummatin ma’doodah]”[Hood 11:8] <\/em><\/span><\/p>\r\n

“Then the man who was released (one of the two who were in prison), now at length [ba’da ummatin] remembered”[Yoosuf 12:45]<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\r\n

2 – It is used to mean a group of people, which is the usual usage, as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meaning): <\/span><\/p>\r\n

“he found there a group of men [ummatan min al-naas] watering (their flocks)”[al-Qasas 28:23] <\/em><\/span><\/p>\r\n

“And for every Ummah (community or nation) there is a Messenger”[Yoonus 10:47] <\/em><\/span><\/p>\r\n

“Mankind were one community [ummah]”[al-Baqarah 2:213]<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\r\n

and there are other similar aayahs. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

3 – The word ummah<\/em> is used to refer to a man who is taken as a leader, as in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): <\/span><\/p>\r\n

“Verily, Ibraaheem (Abraham) was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities)”[al-Nahl 16:120]<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\r\n

4 – The word ummah<\/em> is used to mean a way or religion, as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meanings): <\/span><\/p>\r\n

“They say: “We found our fathers following a certain way and religion [ummah]”[al-Zukhruf 43:23]<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\r\n

“Truly, this, your Ummah [Sharee‘ah or religion (Islamic Monotheism)] is one religion”[al-Anbiyaa’ 21:92]<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\r\n

and there are other similar aayahs. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Adwaa’ al-Bayaan, 3\/13.<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","status":1,"created_at":"2015-05-22T06:00:00.000000Z","updated_at":"2015-05-22T06:00:00.000000Z","language_id":1,"fatawacate_id":24,"parent_id":5957,"author_id":"","books":[],"articles":[],"videos":[],"audios":[],"author_name":"","category_name":"\u062a\u0641\u0633\u064a\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0631\u0622\u0646","category_slug":"","get_date":"2015-05-22"},"translations":[],"fatawa_books":[],"fatawa_articles":[],"fatawa_videos":[],"fatawa_audios":[],"url":"http:\/\/islamland.com\/eng\/api\/fatawas\/5958"}