The Prophet Was Unlettered?

Many Muslims are told that the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, was unlettered, meaning he could not read or write. Part of how they derive this understanding is from the word that Allah (SWT) uses in the Quran to describe him: “Ummiyy.” But does this word mean he could not read or write? Let’s take a closer look.

In the Quran, Allah (SWT) says:

"Those who follow the Messenger, (Al-Ummiyya) Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel…"

"So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered (Al-Ummiyya) Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided."

Now, they translate this word to mean “unlettered,” which normally means someone who cannot read or write. The trilateral root of the word is أ م م (ʾ-M-M). The word أُمِّيّ (ummiyy) can carry definitions such as unlearned, unlettered, or one without previous scriptural learning, depending on the context, of course.

We cannot say that this word means he could not read or write because this word was not only used for Prophet Muhammad in the Quran; it was also used to describe Prophet Muhammad’s people as well.

"It is He who has sent among [Al-Ummiyyīn] 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."

So, in this verse, Allah is saying that He sent a Messenger among the people who were (Ummiyyīn). Now, if this word means “unlettered,” meaning one who cannot read or write, then that would mean his people were also unable to read or write because the same word is used for them.

However, we know that is not true, nor is it even likely that every last one of his people could not read or write. That is simply unrealistic. So, based on pure logic and how Allah uses the word, it can’t mean “unlettered.”

Rather, they were a people who had never received guidance before the Quran, nor had they received a warner. So, they had no knowledge of the Book, which means they were “unlearned.”

Definition of unlearned: Unlearned means not educated or not having acquired knowledge or instruction in a particular subject.

In this case, they were unlearned in divine guidance. They were not educated on it, had not acquired knowledge or instruction on the subject of Islam, nor were they guided concerning the right path.

Allah confirms this when He says:

"And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muhammad], any warner."

"…And indeed, before that they were surely in clear error."

Allah also tells us explicitly that Muhammad DID NOT KNOW what the Book was or what faith was.

"And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith…"

That is why Muhammad is the (Al-Ummiyy) Prophet, because he had no knowledge of the Book/scripture or faith.

What’s even more interesting is that Allah also uses the same word for the People of the Book, where we can see that this word means “one who does not have knowledge of the Book” in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:78:

"And among them (People of the Book) are (Al-Ummiyyūna), unlearned ones who DO NOT KNOW THE BOOK except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming."

It’s explicitly telling us that there were those among the “People of the Book” who DID NOT KNOW THE BOOK except in wishful thinking, and Allah calls them (Al-Ummiyyūna).

And the next verse says:

"So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn."

So, these (Ummiyyūna) people were writing books with their own hands and claiming them to be from Allah, based on their wishful thinking and their assumptions. This shows they could read and write. They just did not know the Book.

Many people also try to use 29:48–49 to say he could not read or write, but let’s look at those verses closely and carefully.

"And you (O Muhammad) did not recite before it (Qablihi) any book. Nor did you write it (Takhuttuhu) with your right hand. If that were the case, then the falsifiers would have doubted."

The key word here is “IT.” What is “it” in this context? It’s talking about the Book—the Quran—hence Allah said [any book].

So Allah is saying that Muhammad did not recite any book/scripture before the Quran. He is not referring to anything that was written down—letters, notes, scrolls, etc.—but rather to a book/scripture concerning guidance.

Notice how Allah did not say, “You did not recite before it ANYTHING.” He said, “Any book.”

Quick Analogy:

If I asked you, “Have you ever read a book before?” and you told me, “No,” does that mean that you never read messages on your phone? Or never read a letter sent to you from a family member? Or what about the signs lit up at night on the highway when you’re driving? No, it does not mean that at all.

So just because Allah said that the messenger did not recite any book before the Quran, it does not mean that he never read anything at all.

Then Allah SWT says: Nor did he write the Quran with his right hand.

We understand more clearly that this verse is referring to the Quran when we go to the next verse:

"Nay, IT is clear verses in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers."

So, “it” refers to the clear verses of the Book in Surah Al-Ankabut 29:48, as the Quran confirms:

"Alif-Lām-Rā. These are the verses of the Clear Book."

"These are the verses of the Clear Book."

So, as we can see, based on the Quran and its context, the word (Al-Ummiyy) does not mean the Prophet could not read or write. Rather, it simply means he had no knowledge of the Book; he had no guidance before the Quran, neither him nor his people. And the Quran does nothing but confirm this.