Is the word Ummah misunderstood?
In islam when the word Ummah is used it means Nation or a group of a nation.The word is used wrongly to represent every single muslim. When the word Ummah is used in the quaran or the hadith it can only mean a group of a nation or a nation. And most of the time it talks about the nation of Muhammed SAWS which doesn't mean All the muslims but It only means his nation his people who are related to him by blood. Just as the word ahl Muhammed SAWS means his family and not all the muslims. It is against Islam to use the word Ummah to mean every muslim because every hadith and verse in quaran point out to something else.
Muslim Unity
Islam does teach us to beleieve in the Muslim Unity and brotherhood due to them obeying Allah and the prophet SAWS and believing and once again this is not blood relation. Those that are blood relation are Ummah (Ones own nation), ahl(Family), Qamy, (ones own people),qurb(kin) and arham(kin) Allah says if those (Those five that I mentioned) are believers then they are closer to you verse 8:75. . There is allot of places which mentions this in hadith and the Quaranic verses.
49:10 The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy, 3:103 And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided and 9:71 The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
And allot of sahih which point to this believe He said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me. The prophets may peace be upon him asked Al Mu'Min to help from his people (nation).
[ Allah ] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful. Ar Razzaq said That he shall surley destroy the people who disbelieved his (the prophet) nation.
So the shriek seized them in truth, and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people. Al Qawiyy then destroyed most of of people in the nation except a few.
Then We produced after them other generations. Al Khaliq said that created other generations after them. The genrations come from one another just like Allah explained it to us and so does Science.
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter]. Here Allah is saying that no nation will continue on rulling and that also can not stop itself from being destroyed. Because most of the nations Allah destroyed he has mentioned that a few of them where spared. And for the people who say Ummah means religion by reading this verse you can understand what is ment by it.
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe. Here Al Mudhil says that everytime a messenger came to his nation they denied him so Allah made them follow one another.
The sacrifice and shedding blood in the Name of Allah has been prescribed for all nations
22:34 And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.
Ibrahim Allahi salaam preaching to his People(Nation)
29:16 And (remember) Ibrahim when he said to his people: "Worship Allah, and have Taqwa of Him, that is better for you if you know
29:17 You worship besides Allah only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allah have no power to give you provision, so seek from Allah your provision, and worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be brought back.
29:18 And if you deny, then nations before you have denied. And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey plainly. Ibrahim May Allah bless him and his family said That nations before you (His nation) have denied And the only thing he will be asked is by Al Basir if he conveyed his message.
Allah Tells The Messenger SAWS that he should just convey the message and not worry so much.Because only Allah guides people to the straight path and makes the Kaffirs by leading them astray.
35:23 You are only a warner
35:24 Verily, We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them. Al Adl said that there was never a nation but a warner had passed among them
35:25 And if they deny you, those before them (Nations) also denied. Their Messengers came to them with clear signs, and with the Scriptures, and with the Book giving light.
35:26 Then I took hold of those who disbelieved, and how terrible was My denial!
The Quraish asked Al Mu'izz that if he makes them the chosen people and If he sents them a Messenger from among themself they will become more obedient then All the Other nations.
35:42 And they swore by Allah their most binding oath that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any of the nations. yet when a warner came to them, it increased in
them nothing but flight (from the truth). After Muhammed SAWS whom they prayed for came they disbelieved So Al Haqq said just as the previous nations. 37:167-170
On jamul qiyamah (the day of judgment) Al Mu'id shall gather out of every nation a group that denied his signs ( Hiqma, Prophets, books and his creation)
27:83 And (remember) the Day when We shall gather out of every nation a Fawj of those who denied Our Ayat, and they shall be driven. Ones again Ummah in islam clearlly means nation and not religion. And may Allah curse the people who lie about Al Majid ansd the Prophet SAWS unless they are ignorant and when they are shown the truth they repent and publicly mention the truth to those who they told.
27:84 Till, when they come, He will say: "Did you deny My Ayat whereas you comprehended them not by knowledge, or what was it that you used to do!'' Al Wahid asks every nation whom he selected a group from among them if they denied his signs ( Hiqma, Prophets, books and his creation)
Al Muqtadir says to his messengers to eat the lawful things and righteous deeds and tells them to help their own people and advise them of the good and prohibit them from the bad.
23:51 O Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well-Acquainted with what you do.
23:52 And verily, this your nation is one nation, and I am your Lord, so have Taqwa. Al Alim is saying here each prophet has his own nation everyone comes from one nation.
23:53 But they cut off their affair (of unity as a nation) between them into sects each faction in what they have rejoicing. Allah explain here that those messengers the people in their Nation cut off their affair of unitty. In the quaran and hadith you will see where people relatated to echother (kin) to not cut of from eachother. Allah when they haven broken themself into sect each of them where rejoicing and what they Have. And when continuing to read on you will see what Allah ment by what they felt proud of.
23:54 So, leave them in their error for a time.
23:55 Do they think that in wealth and children with which We prolong them. This is what Ar Razzaq ment by them breacking into sect and each one rejoicing in what it has.
Al Kabir sent down to the Arabs and the people Quraish disbelieved and Allah explains how he blesses them and made them Inherit the world.
10:13 And indeed, We destroyed generations before you (Arabs) when they did wrong, while their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe! Thus do We requite the people who are criminals.
10:14 Then We made you successors after them, generations after generations in the land, that We might see how you would work.
10:15 And when Our clear Ayat are recited unto them, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Qur'an other than this, or change it. (The peope of Quraish said to the prophet SAWS to bring them a book which will agree with their worhip). Say: "It is not for me to change it on my ownaccord; I only follow that which is revealed unto me.Verily, I fear the torment of the Great Day (the Day of Resurrection) if I were to disobey my Lord.''
10:16 Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. Verily, I have stayed among you a lifetime before this. Have you then no sense!
10:17 So who does more wrong than he who tells a lie against Allah or denies His Ayat! Surely, the criminals will never be successful!
10:18 And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say:
"These are our intercessors with Allah.These are the Quraish Allah is speaking about who worshiped idols. And they say these are our intercessors the people of Quaraish allways believed in Allah and their idols they said where only intercessors.
10:19 And These people are but one nation who differ (among themself); and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed. Allah Is saying here that the Arabs are one nation who use to respect eachother because they had the same believe. And then Muhammed SAWS they started to believe them and That's when they cut of their unity as a nation and devided believer and kaffirs. This aya is the same as 42: 14 They devided only when knowledge came to them The prophet SAWS.
Allah says to the Arabs and the prophet SAWS that he revealed a book to them in their langauge so they can warn their people in mekkah and all around.
42:7 And thus We have revealed to you a Qur'an in Arabic that you may warn the Mother of the Towns and all around it. and warn (them) of the Day of Assembling of which there is no doubt, a party will be in Paradise and a party in the blazing Fire.
42:8 And if Allah had willed, He could have made them one nation, but He admits whom He wills to His mercy.And the wrongdoers will have neither a protector nor a helper. Al Alim is saying here that if Allah had willed he could have made one nation meaning they would devide among themself they would cut of the unity that they have as an nation. Allah says but he admits whom he wills to his mercy and the wrongdoers will have neither a protector nor a helper. He means That he guides whom he wills and misguides whom he wills, which caused them to devide among themselfs. There is another simmilar verse to this which explains it more detail. The Aya is in Surat Al hud 11:1118 and 11:119
11:118 And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah, but they will not cease to differ. Here Al Malik said that he could have made them one meaning not devided among themself but as a nation which is united.He then said but even if he made them one nation they will not cease to differ. And by reading the previous verse 42:8 you will understand what he means with differed. meaning in religion some believers and the other disbelievers.
11:119 But for him on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy, and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (His saying): "Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together. Then Al Alim continues to make it even clearer because in previous aya he said that if he made them one nation (Not devided among themself) they would still disagree ( believers and disbelievers) Allah then continues to say but whom your lord has bestowed his mercy on (guided to islam) and Thats why he created them meaning mankind to believe in him. And Allah is talking about those in the previous verse if he did make them one nation they will still differ ( believe and disblieve) Al khabir has one them and then continues to talk about they other. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (His saying): "Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together and these are the disbelievers. In these ayas 11:118 and 11:119 Allah explains those who differ (disbelievers and believers) who they are that these people who differ (disbelievers and believers) are one nation (not devided among themself and fighting eachother). And Surah shurah aya number 8 explains it to. So it is forbidden to say in islam that the word Ummah applies to all the muslims because every verse in the quaan and hadith points That it is.
21:92 Truly, this, your Nation is one, and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me. All says your nation meaning ur all one and should unite and not devide and be an enemy amng eachother. It is mentioned in Allot verses in the quaran and hadith that Join that which Allah has commanded and not cut of their affair among themself the unity of their own people. An exampleof that is surah 13:19-21 and 13:25
21:93 But they cut of their affair among themselves( devided among themself an enemy to one another). (And) they all shall return to Us.
21:94 So whoever does righteous good deeds while he is a believer, his efforts will not be rejected. Verily, We record it for him (in his Book of deeds). Then Allah says whoever does righteous deeds from among their nation that have cut their affair and devided ( devided among themself an enemy to one another) And he is a believer his efforts will not be rejected.
AL Wadud explains it even in more detail in allot of verses what the word Ummah means and what Allah means when he says And had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation ( People who are united and not devided and who are not enemies to one another)
16:91 And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken them, and do not break the oaths after you have confirmed them - and indeed you have appointed Allah as your guarantor.Verily, Allah knows what you do. Al Baith said to fulfill his covenant after they have taken it and the he says do not break the oath after you have confirmed them. This convenant of Allah is the religion. There is two convenants which can be made one of them is the religion when you say i believe and obey in everything Allah send. And the other is when someone makes a covenant with Allah to ask him to bestow some bestow some of his bounties on to him. But in this verse and the following it talking about the religion of Allah because he makes it clear. When Allah talks about his covenant which is the religion obeying and believing in him which allot of verses are based on for example. In these following Surah 7:169, 5:12, 6:152,5:13,2:93, 48:10, 13:25, 2:27, 5:14 and 2:40 and there is allot more verses.
16:92 And do not be like the one who undoes the thread which she has spun, after it has become
strong, by taking your oaths as a means of deception among yourselves when one group is
more numerous than another group. Allah only tests you by this, and on the Day of Resurrection,
He will certainly clarify that which used to differ over. Al Qawiyy is saying here that dont break your oaths in the religion of Allah after you have believed. And then Allah goes on to talk about their enemies when they are more numerous then them that he only tests you by this to how you will do(If they will fear them or Allah). And then he says on the day of Resurrection he will clarify that what they use differ over which made them enemies to one another.
16:93 And had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation( People who are united and not devided and who are not enemies to one another), but He allows whom He wills to stray and He guides whom He wills.But you shall certainly be called to account for what you used to do. And then Allah says after reading in the previous verse that they two groups enemies to another but from the same nation who differ (Disbelievers and believers). He says he could have united them as one nation who and devided or enemies to one another. But Allah guides whom he will and missguides whom he wills inorder to test them the believers if they will follow their people and their religion or Islam the quaran that was send down to them which caused their nation to devide and be enemies to one another. And this also explained in surah Mai'dah aya 48.
16:94 And do not make your oaths a means of deception among yourselves, resulting in the slip of a foot after it was firmly planted, and you taste the evil of having hindered from the path of Allah, and you will suffer a terrible punishment. Al Karim says do not make the oaths that you took as deception this Oath they took was the covenant of Allah to obey and believe in him. Straight after Allah says you where a strong believer dont stray from the right path of Allah. Then he continues to say because you have hindered from the path of Allah you will taste evil and a terrible punishment which is Hell if they stay on it. And when Al Wadud said that they have hindered from the path of Allah it is clear what it means the religion of Allah. As you will understand from these following verses what Allah means and no can disagree except a hypochrite or a disbeliever. The verses are 16:88, 11:19, 9:9, 7:45, 47:1 and 47:34 and allot of other verses
16:95 And do exchange the covenant of Allah for the purchase of little value, what is with Allah is better for you if you only knew. As I explained before their can be two types of covenant you take with Allah but both these convenats still mean that they are going to obey and beleive in Allah. The first one is for Allah alone to believe and obey in him and the second is that they Allah and say if you give me so and so I will obey and believe in you and be among those who are righteous which found in this Surah 9:75. Al Jabbar explains in this surah 16:95 and the following that the covenant they took was the first one and not the second. Allah says do disobey me and the convenant that you took when you I obey and believe for the purchase of a ittle value in this world meaning this world and then he says whats with him is better meaning Jannah.
16:96 Whatever you have will be exhausted, and what is with Allah will remain.And to those who are patient, We will certainly grant them their rewards in proportion to the best of what they used to do. Allah continues to say what is with you will desapear soon and not last but what will remain is what is with Allah which is Jannah and then he says those who are true to their convenant and are patient we will grant them rewards of the best that they use to do meaning Jannah. And this aya is the same and simmilar as 33:23 thats for people who understand.
Al Aziz explains that when he send the quaran down he told his messenger to judge his people by it and not to follow their disires for most of them use to be idolatress. Allah continues on saying that of he would have made them one nation which is united because in Islam It not good to cut of affairs and be enemies to your own people 13:19-21 and 13:25. So Allah he would have devided them but he does this to test the believers if they will follow there own and most of their religion. Or something which is new that was sent down to them as a blessing.
5:48 And We have sent down to you the Book (this Qur'an) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhayminan over it (old Scriptures).
5:48 So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. Allah tells The messenger to judge between his people and not to follow their desires the idolatress.
5:48 To all fo you, We have prescribed a law and a
clear way. Al Malik told them they he has percribed a law and clear which is the quaran and their prophets SAW for all of them.
5:48 If Allah willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. Here Allah said he would have made them one nation which is united because in Islam It not good to cut of affairs and be enemies to your own people 13:19-21 and 13:25. So Allah he would have not have devided them but he does this to test the believers if they will follow there own people and msot of their ways. Or something which is new that was sent down to them as a blessing
5:48 The return of you (all) is to Allah; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ. Al Fattiah says they they will al return to him and then judge them devide among their nation and be an enemey to one another. He will judge them by what they have diffred (Disbelievers and believers) in.
5:49 And so judge between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you far away from some of that which Allah has sent down to you. So he said teh to messenger SAWS and the muslims judge between ur people who devided among believer and disbelievers. And do not follow those idolatress vain desires.
5:49 And if they turn away, then know that Allah's will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most men are rebellious.
5:50 Do they then seek the judgment of (the days of) ignorance! And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith.
Al Afuww sadi that the Messegers where send to their own nations every nation has had a messenger from among themselfs.
2:213 Peoples have one nation (Who are suppose to be united and not devided) that they belong to and Allah rasied up Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent down the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. As Sabur says in this verse People nation are one everyone in this world belongs to one nation and then he says from those nations he raised up prophets. Allah made it very cler because he knows people lie about him he did not send prophets as in after Like it says in this verse16:36. But Al Khaliq said he raised them up and you should ask yourself from where. When you read this verse and others you will know that Allah mentiones That he raised them up from there nations.
Al Alim has revealed many verses which explained that each nation had a Messenger from among themself. In 10:47, 35:24,3:164, 6:130 and 23:32
It is clear in islam That the word Ummah does not mean religion or they are all disbelievers or believers like it says in the tafsir of ibn kahtir. May Allah curse the person who translates and adds to it because they are missleading allot of people.
These following verses which I am going to mention now is enough proof but there is to much.
10:47 And for every Ummah there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. Allah says for every ummah there is a messenger who will come from among them meaning the Ummah (nation) his people. So unless you want to call the Messengers kaffirs or want to call Allah a liar because he sents messengers when most of the Ummah is on disbelieve.And they insult Allah and the Messengers by saying the the word Ummah means religion that they all are on believe or disbelieve.
14:4 And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them.Allah says for every ummah there is a messenger who will come from among them meaning the Ummah (nation) his people. So unless you want to call the Messengers kaffirs or want to call Allah a liar because he sents messengers when most of the Ummah is on disbelieve.And they insult Allah and the Messengers by saying the the word Ummah means religion that they all are on believe or disbelieve.
16:113 There has come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment seized them while they were wrongdoers.Allah says for every ummah there is a messenger who will come from among them meaning the Ummah (nation) his people. So unless you want to call the Messengers kaffirs or want to call Allah a liar because he sents messengers when most of the Ummah is on disbelieve.And they insult Allah and the Messengers by saying the the word Ummah means religion that they all are on believe or disbelieve.
62:2 He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves.Allah says for every ummah there is a messenger who will come from among them meaning the Ummah (nation) his people. So unless you want to call the Messengers kaffirs or want to call Allah a liar because he sents messengers when most of the Ummah is on disbelieve.And they insult Allah and the Messengers by saying the the word Ummah means religion that they all are on believe or disbelieve
Al Malik talks to the Arabs in the last couple of verses I will mention. And now there is no doubt about the meaning of Ummah you will understand more.
3:100 O you who believe! If you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture (Jews and
Christians), they would (indeed) render you disbelievers after you have believed! These where the Jews and Christians who lived near them.
3:101 And how would you disbelieve, while unto you are recited the verses of Allah, and among you is His Messenger! And whoever depends upon Allah, then he is indeed guided to the right path. Allah is talkin about the verses of Allah where being recited by the messenger Muhamed SAWS.
3:102 O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah as is His due, and die not except as (true) Muslims. Ones again these verses where sent to arabs but it applies to everyone because there is allot of lessons of People of teh past in the quaran which Allah send for to learn from them the bad and the good.
3:103 And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's favor on you, for you were enemies of one another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Al Karim tells the Arabs just like allot of other verses that it is no good to be devided and tells them remember when they enemies of one another but he made them muslims so they became one as nation should not divided.
3:104 Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-
Ma`ruf (all that Islam orders) and forbidding Al- Munkar (all that Islam has forbidden). And it is theywho are the successful. Al Wadud said here let there arise from your nation people who will who will do good in islam.
3:105 And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment. Al Haqq said do not divide among your nation and do not differ in your religions follow the right path.
3:106 On the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black. as for those whose faces will become black (to them will be said): "Did you reject faith after accepting it! Then taste the torment (in Hell) for rejecting faith.'' At the meaning of his face will become white eand black is an expression meaning sad, angry and disapointed or happy and relieved there is a surah in the quaran and the same word is used.
It is used in this verse 16:58 And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes black, and he is filled with inner grief! It is obvious his face did not become black of the news that he had heard but he became sad, angry and disapointed. And the Abyad means light and when used for other then a colour skin it is white but when it used for a colour skin it means Lighter then the Arabs skin tone which is black and darkbrown.. And this word Abyad (Light) is used by Arabs when someone has a colour skin which is close to the Arabs but just a bit lighter they call it Abyad. It is a fact in islam Abyad does not mean white when used for colour of skin There is a allot of hadith that point this and it can also be found in Lisan Al Arab which is well known Dictionary. THE WORD Amhaq means Pale and the word Ahmar is a Wheatish colour a colour darker then Amahaq. The colour of gold is called Ahmar in Arabic which can be found in sahih muslim and Tirmidi etc. And people should also know that the slaves of the Arabs where fair compared to them.
The Book of Oaths (Kitab al Aiman)Book 015, Number 4046:Ayyub said: We were sitting in the company of Abu Musa that he called for food and it consisted of flesh of fowl. It was then that a person from Banu Tamim visited him. His complexion was red having the resemblance of a slave.
3:107 And for those whose faces will become white, they will be in Allah's mercy (Paradise), therein they shall dwell forever.
3:108 These are the Ayat of Allah. We recite them to you in truth, and Allah wills no injustice to the Alamin.
3:109 And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And all matters go back (for decision) to Allah.
3:110 You are the best of nation ever raised up for mankind.you enjoin Al-Ma`ruf (all that Islam has ordained)and forbid Al-Munkar (all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. Al Mu'izz Is saying in the verse that the Arabs are the best nation ever rasied up for manind. It should be not surprising when Bani israil in allot of verses where said the same and also the Whole of the family of Ibrahim.
3:110 And had the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Fasiqun (rebellious).
It Is sad to claim someone else Lineage or the bounties which Allah bestowed on them out of Hatred and Jealousy and to want to fit in or take something that does not belong to you.
