Criticizing and Studying of Orientalists’ View on being “Ommi” or Illiteracy of Prophet Mohammad

Abstract

The Arabic words “Ommi” refers to the illiteracy of Prophet. Ommi or Illiteracy of Prophet Mohammad, which is even mentioned in the holy Quran, is one of the most controversial issues among Islamic Scientists and Orientalists. Most Islamic thinkers considered the Prophet Mohammad as an illiterate meaning that he was not able to read and write which this is by itself one of the Quran miraculous aspects. This fact is unanimously agreed by Islamic philosophers. However, orientalists have cast many doubts on this subject till now believing that Prophet was able to read as well as write, and he has read former divine books before being chosen as a prophet. Some Orientalists gave the word Ommi a different meaning and believed that the meaning of the word does not refer to illiteracy of the Prophet but refers to the Prophet of idol worshippers or non-Jewish people. The current inquiry made an attempt not only to criticize and examine Orientalists’ views on the issue but offer the precise meaning of being Ommi or illiteracy of Prophet Mohammad by using the Quranic narrative and historical accounts. It reached the conclusion that the Prophet Mohammad was unable to read and write before being chosen as prophet, and also was not able to do so even till the end of His life leaving no doubt on His Prophecy through which the miracle of the Quran and God is proven.

Keywords

• the holy prophet
• ommi
• reading and writing
• orientalists