Ummi (unlettered, and the prayer of one who cannot recite)

Ummi is one who is attributed to his mother, and the word is used of one who can neither read nor write, since reading and writing are acquired, and he remains as his mother bore him. ¹

• One who cannot recite the opening surah but can recite one verse of it may repeat that verse seven times in place of the seven verses, according to some; others say he should not repeat it. ¹
• If he cannot recite the surah but can recite other verses, he recites what he knows. ¹
• If he knows nothing and tries but cannot learn, Abu Hanifa and some Malikis have him pray without any recitation. ¹
• al-Shafi'i, Ahmad and some Malikis have him praise God, declare His unity and glorify Him in place of recitation, following the hadith: "when you stand to pray, if you have some Qur'an recite it; otherwise praise God, declare His unity and glorify Him." ²

The Sheikh notes that some people say the Prophet ﷺ could not read, and he presents the question as a disputed one (needs_source) ³. He holds, as his own opinion, that the matter in dispute must be defined first before the question of the Prophet's illiteracy is discussed, and he points out that some who raise the question rely on transmissions from the tradition (needs_source) ⁴.

The Sheikh describes those who argue about the Prophet's illiteracy in demeaning terms, and, by his own judgement, calls them enemies of the faith ⁵.