In our tradition we describe the Quran as the pre-eternal divine speech. The text of the Quran is technically speaking called a Mushaf. We can call the written text the Quran, and there are several hadith that indicate this, such as:

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُسَافَرَ بِالْقُرْآنِ إِلَى أَرْضِ الْعَدُوِّ

Related by ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar: ‘The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade traveling to the lands of the enemy with the...

The Quran is ‘Light upon Light’ and the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is ‘Light upon Light.’

In Sura al-A’raf, the Divine says, ‘Those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light [the Quran] that is sent down with him—it is they who shall prosper.’ (7:157)

And in Sura al-Ma'ida the Divine says, ‘Certainly there has come to you, from Allah, a Light [the Prophet] and a clear book.’ (5:15) The...

Ibn 'Ata'illah says in Taj al-'Arus:

Whosoever is nearing the end of his life and wants to recover what he has missed [of righteousness] should invoke with the comprehensive formulae of remembrance. By doing that, a short life will be as if it were long. An example of this is him saying “Glorified and transcendent is Allah, the Tremendous, and to Him is all praise—by the number of His creation, His self-pleasure, the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His words.” Likewise,...

QUESTION

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is considered 'Ummi.’

Is this a reference that he (Allah bless him and give him peace) categorically could not read and write or is it instead a reference that he was untaught by man?

There are some circles that deny the former position outright and advocate the latter meaning of 'Ummi' as the only orthodox view.

ANSWER

Preamble

There are several things that must be discussed to give this question justice....