Tafseer of Friday · Al-Jumu'a · 62:2
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error -
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah, exalted is His mention, says: Allah is the One who, among the unlettered (al-ummiyyūn), has sent a Messenger from among themselves. His statement "He" (huwa) is a reference to the name of Allah. And the unlettered: they are the Arabs. We have already previously set forth the meaning on account of which the unlettered one is called "ummī."
And in accordance with what we have said about the unlettered in this place, the exegetes have spoken.
Ibn Bashshār related to us, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid, who said: هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الأمِّيِّينَ رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ ("He is the One who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from among themselves"), he said: the Arabs.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: I heard Sufyān al-Thawrī transmit — I do not know it except on the authority of Mujāhid — that he said: هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الأمِّيِّينَ رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ : the Arabs.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الأمِّيِّينَ رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ , he said: this tribe of the Arabs was an unlettered community, in which there was no Book that they read; so Allah sent His Prophet Muḥammad as a mercy and a guidance, to guide them thereby.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الأمِّيِّينَ رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ , he said: this community was unlettered, they did not read a Book.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement: هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الأمِّيِّينَ رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ , he said: the community of Muḥammad, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, was called "the unlettered" only because He had not sent down to them a Book. And He, exalted is His praise, said: رَسُولا مِنْهُمْ ("a Messenger from among themselves"), that is to say: from the unlettered. He said "from among themselves" only because Muḥammad, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, was unlettered and came forth from the Arabs.
And His statement: يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ ("who recites to them His signs") means, exalted is His praise: he recites to these unlettered ones the signs of Allah which He sent down to him. وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ("and who purifies them") means: and he cleanses them of the defilement of unbelief (kufr).
And His statement: وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ ("and who teaches them the Book") means: and he teaches them the Book of Allah and what is therein of the command and prohibition of Allah, and the laws of His religion. وَالْحِكْمَةَ ("and the wisdom") — by the wisdom is meant: the transmitted practices (al-sunan).
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the exegetes have spoken.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ , that is to say: the Sunna.
Yūnus related to us, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said: وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ — likewise as He taught these, He purifies them through the Book and good works, and He teaches them the Book and the wisdom, as He did with the first ones. And he recited the statement of Allah, mighty and exalted: وَالسَّابِقُونَ الأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ ("And the first forerunners among the emigrants and the helpers, and those who followed them in goodness") — of those who remain of the people of Islam until the Hour arrives. He said: and Allah has placed forerunners among them. And he recited the statement of Allah, mighty and exalted: وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ * أُولَئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ("And the forerunners are the forerunners; they are the ones brought near"). And he said: ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الأَوَّلِينَ * وَقَلِيلٌ مِنَ الآخِرِينَ ("a multitude of the first ones and a few of the later ones"). A multitude of the first ones are forerunners, and few are the forerunners of the later ones. And he recited: وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ ("And the people of the right hand — what are the people of the right hand?") until he reached: ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الأَوَّلِينَ * وَثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الآخِرِينَ ("a multitude of the first ones and a multitude of the later ones") — likewise. He said: and the forerunners of the first ones are more numerous, while those of the later ones are few. And he recited: وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالإِيمَانِ ("And those who came after them say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith"), the [entire] āya. He said: these belong to the people of Islam, until the Hour arrives.
And His statement: وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلالٍ مُبِينٍ ("though before that they were in manifest error") means, Allah, exalted is His mention, says: and these unlettered ones were, before Allah sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, truly in deviation from the right way, and they followed a direction without clear guidance. "Mubīn" (manifest) means: it becomes clear to whoever considers it that it is error and deviation from the truth and from the path of rectitude.
