Glossary: U
A B D F G H I J K L M N Q R S T U W Y Z
ʿukūf
Al-Rāghib: a timthāl is an image or depiction, and ʿukūf means turning to something and adhering to it in glorification. → Read at 21:52
ʿulamāʾ
Those who know here are those who have knowledge of God, a deep and complete understanding of Him through His names, attributes and acts that makes their hearts certain and removes any doubt; its effects are seen in their deeds. → Read at 35:28
ulū al-amr
Al-amr in this phrase means the religious or temporal affairs of the believers addressed (taking it as 'order' is far-fetched). Because the verse joins them with the Messenger under one unconditional obedience, the ulū al-amr must be maʿṣūm (sinless), like the Messenger. → Read at 4:59
ulūhiyyah
The idolaters ascribed only creation to God, and held two further attributes true of their idols: rubūbiyyah (lordship), the direction of the universe, and ulūhiyyah (divinity), which qualifies one to be served and worshiped. → Read at 85:9
umm al-kitāb
- () Al-umm literally means a thing to which another thing returns and in which it takes refuge. The decisive verses are called the 'basis of the Book' because the ambiguous verses return to them; the basis is a part of the Book itself, not something different from it. → Read
- () The Mother Book means the Guarded Tablet (al-lawḥ al-maḥfūẓ) (); it is so called because it is the origin from which all the revealed scriptures were transcribed. → Read
ummah
An ummah is a group united by a single purpose and destination; here it means the human species as a single nation. → Read at 21:92
ummiyy
One who does not read and write, understood (on one suggestion) to refer to the Arabs, few of whom could; the Prophet was of them but sent to all mankind. → Read at 62:2
ʿutuw
Al-Rāghib: to be recalcitrant regarding obedience, near in meaning to arrogance; nukr is cleverness or a difficult matter previously unknown, here the second meaning. → Read at 65:8