The title ‘Ummi’

The title of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمis Ummi [اُمِّی] which has two meanings: It may mean ‘Umm-ul-Qura’ [اُمُّ القُرٰی] which is a title of Makkah Mukarramah. Hence Ummi means a dweller [i.e. one who lives in] Makkah. It may also mean that the Greatest and Noblest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمdid not learn reading and writing from any human being in the world. It is one of the greatest Mu’jizaat [i.e. miracles] of the Revered and Renowned Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمthat no one taught him reading and writing in the world. Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed upon him so much knowledge that his blessed heart is the treasure of knowledge and Ma’rifah of former as well as later times of the universe. The book which contains the description of everything has been revealed to him, as is stated in the Holy Quran: ‘تِبْیَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَیْءٍ’ (which is a clear explanation of all things). Maulana Jaami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهbeautifully wrote a couplet:

نگار من کہ بہ مکتب نرفت و خط ننوشت بغمزہ سبق آموز صد مدرس شد

Translation: My Beloved neither went to any school nor did he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمlearn reading and writing from anyone but he taught lessons to hundreds of teachers.

Of course, one who has been blessed with knowledge by the Almighty does not need at all to gain knowledge from anyone else. A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهwrote a couplet:

Aysa Ummi kis liye minnat kash ustaz ho Kya kifayat is ko ‘اقرء ربك الاکرم’ nahin

What is the secret behind his title ‘Ummi’? Only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ can reveal it perfectly. However, there are apparently some words of wisdom and benefits which can be obtained from it.

1. Firstly, the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمtaught the entire world about knowledge and wisdom. Only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed knowledge upon him. No human being ever taught him and no one could claim that the Noble Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwas his student.
2. Secondly, no one could ever think that man so-and-so taught the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم, and that the man might be more knowledgeable than the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمfor this reason.
3. Thirdly, no one could even suspect that the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwas a well-educated person, and that he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمhimself fabricated the Ayahs of the Holy Quran and that the Holy Quran was his own invention.
4. Fourthly, no one could object that the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمenlightened the entire world about unique and revolutionary teachings by learning them from previous books.
5. Fifthly, if anyone were the teacher of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould have to honour the teacher, whereas the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمhas been created by the Creator of the universe so that the entire universe will honour him. Hence, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has not liked it for His Beloved Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمto become the student of any human being. (وَاللهُ تَعَالٰی اَعلَم)