Whilst reading the Qur’aan I have come across the word “ummah” 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?
Praise be to Allah.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said:
The word ummah is used in four senses in the Qur’aan:
1 – The word ummah is used to mean a period of
time, as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meanings):
“And if We delay the torment for them till a determined
term [ila ummatin ma’doodah]”[Hood 11:8]
“Then the man who was released (one of the two who
were in prison), now at length [ba’da ummatin] remembered”[Yoosuf 12:45]
2 – It is used to mean a group of people, which is the
usual usage, as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meaning):
“he found there a group of men [ummatan min al-naas]
watering (their flocks)”[al-Qasas 28:23]
“And for every Ummah (community or nation) there is
a Messenger”[Yoonus 10:47]
“Mankind were one community [ummah]”[al-Baqarah 2:213]
and there are other similar aayahs.
3 – The word ummah is used to refer to a man who
is taken as a leader, as in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Ibraaheem (Abraham) was an Ummah (a leader
having all the good righteous qualities)”[al-Nahl 16:120]
4 – The word ummah is used to mean a way or religion,
as in the aayahs (interpretation of the meanings):
“They say: “We found our fathers following a certain
way and religion [ummah]”[al-Zukhruf 43:23]
“Truly, this, your Ummah [Sharee‘ah or religion (Islamic
Monotheism)] is one religion”[al-Anbiyaa’ 21:92]
and there are other similar aayahs.