Ummah
/ˈʊm.ə/noun
The worldwide community of Muslims, regarded as a unified religious society.
Did you know?In the Qur’an, ummah can refer not only to human communities but also to communities of animals, emphasizing collective belonging as a living principle.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic period
Proto-Semitic
ʾ-m-m
“A root associated in Semitic languages with leading, directing, or being a communal source; the precise pre-Arabic pathway is debated.”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
ʾumma
“A people, community, group, or nation sharing a common condition or purpose.”
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
ummah
“A community or collective, including religious communities and, in one passage, communities of animals.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
al-ummah
“The Muslim community as a religious collective, especially in contrast with other peoples or communities.”
19th Century
English
ummah
“An English borrowing used in Islamic studies and writing about the global Muslim community.”
Modern English
English
ummah
“The worldwide community of Muslims, often understood as a transnational spiritual fellowship.”