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KFGQPC HAFS

Mahmoud Khaleel Al-Husary

Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Dr. Mustafa Khattab

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. It means spoken lies. [Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, al-Farrāʾ]
2. It means recitation. The meaning is that they do not know the meanings of the Book; their focus is limited to hearing its recitation (without trying to understand its meaning).  [al-Kisāʾī, al-Zajjāj]
3. It refers to their false hopes about Allah. [Qatādah]

What is the meaning of the word "amānī" in this āyah?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. The unlettered person is called *ummī* because he is in the default state of the nation (*ummah*) which did not learn reading and writing, so he remains in his original state. [Al-Zajjāj]
2. He is referred to as *ummī* because he is attributed to his mother (*umm*), as writing was more common among men than women. Another suggestion is that it denotes remaining in the state in which his mother gave birth to him.

What is the etymology of the word *"ummi"* (unlettered)?