Ummatan in 16:120

[loli]

Salamun Aalaikum brothers and sisters of free minds.

When reading through the Quran, one of my study group members run through this verse,

M.Ahmed&Samira
16:120 That Abraham was a nation/constitution/(set example) (he) was obeying humbly/holding the prayer to God, a submitter/Moslem/Unifier of God, and (he) was not from the sharers/takers of partners (with God).

16:120
inna             - That
ibrahima        - Abraham
kana             - was a
ummatan       - nation/constitution
qanitan         - obeying humbly
lillahi             - to God
hanifan          -  Upright
walam yaku    - and not he
mina             - from/of
al-musyrikina  - idolaters

How can Abraham, was an "ummat"? Although "ummat" is sigular, it has a plural meaning, i.e a collective body if it is ussually translated to Nation.

From QD by Abdul Mannan Omar,
The word Ummat can also be translated into "a way,course,manner or mode of acting. It also meands faith, religion,nation, generation,time or a period of time, righteous person or a person who is an object of imitation who is an object of imitation."

Therefore the correnct translation in my opinion(taking into consideration Abdul Mannan Omar definition) is

16:120
inna             - That
ibrahima        - Abraham
kana             - is he
ummatan       - to be immitate
qanitan         - obeying humbly
lillahi             - to God
hanifan          -  Upright
walam yaku    - and not he
mina             - from/of
al-musyrikina  - idolaters

Obeying humbly to God, to be upright and not to be from the idolater is some of the qualities that to be immitate from Abraham.

Im suggesting this translation because ummat = nation doesnt seems to fit in this verse. Therefore if there is any correction or comments regarding this verse is really appriciated.

salam

[thegod]

loli wrote:
Im suggesting this translation because ummat = nation doesnt seems to fit in this verse. Therefore if there is any correction or comments regarding this verse is really appriciated.

# i ll concur with ur view regarding this....to me it does seem "ummatan" is pretty well translated along the lines of model/pattern and the likes! (-:

salam

# salam brother loli! (-:

[loli]

# salam sister loli! (-:

Thanx for confirming thegod,

hope that you could take some corrections coz im a brother...

salam

[Arnab]

Salam,
According to Hans Wehr and Lane's Lexicon:

Umm (Alif Meem) is defined as:
1. to go, betake oneself, aim at or pursue (something or toward some place)
2. to lead the way
3. mother, source or origin, basis or foundation

ummatan (alif, meem with the added ta murbuta) the definitions listed are:

Lane's Lexicon
1. A way, course, mode, or manner, of acting,
or conduct, or the like
2. one course in which people follow in the way of religion
3. any people called
after a prophet e.g. followers of the prophet
4. A nation; a people; a race; a
tribe, distinct body, or family

I would say that the first and second definitions (with the ta murbuta added) combined correctly defines the word at this point (a way, course, mode, or manner of acting in the way of religion)

you must also keep in mind that kana is defined by Lane's lexicon as "strong in make" so change the definition for kana from "was" to "strong in make" and you have the following new translation:

inna              - That
ibrahima        - Abraham
kana             - strong in make
ummatan       - a way, course, manner of acting in which people follow in the way of religion
qanitan         - obeying humbly
lillahi             - to God
hanifan          - true believer (I changed this according to Hans Wehr pg 245)
walam yaku    - and not he
mina             - from/of
al-musyrikina  - the idolaters

Salam,
Arnab

[thegod]

loli wrote:
Thanx for confirming thegod,

# anytime bro! :-)

hope that you could take some corrections coz im a brother...

# i am embarrassed ]-:...please accept my apologies! :-)

salam

# salam! :-)