2:78 (Gentiles & Scripture)

The next occurrence we will analyze can be found in 2:78.

[2:78] Among them are ummyun who do not know the scripture, except through hearsay, then assume that they know it.

وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا أَمَانِيَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

1	wamin’hum	وَمِنْهُمْ	And among them (are)
2	ummiyyūna	أُمِّيُّونَ	gentiles
3	lā	لَا	(who do) not
4	yaʿlamūna	يَعْلَمُونَ	[they] know
5	l-kitāba	ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ	the scripture
6	illā	إِلَّآ	except
7	amāniyya	أَمَانِىَّ	wishful thinking / hearsay
8	wa-in	وَإِنْ	and not
9	hum	هُمْ	they (know anything)
10	illā	إِلَّا	except
11	yaẓunnūna	يَظُنُّونَ	[they] guess / conjecture [with firm conviction].

Some claim that this verse infers that the prophet did not know any book because of the word “l-kitāba” ( ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ), but this is not regarding any book, but specifically in the context of scripture as it uses the definitive article “the” to reference “the scripture.”

Additionally, in the next verse, we see that the “ummy” mentioned in 2:78 are those who read and write the scripture with their hands.

[2:79] Therefore, woe to those who distort the scripture with their own hands, then say, “This is what GOD has revealed,” seeking a cheap material gain. Woe to them for what their hands wrote, and woe to them for their illicit gains.

فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

1	fawaylun	فَوَيْلٌ	So woe
2	lilladhīna	لِّلَّذِينَ	to those who
3	yaktubūna	يَكْتُبُونَ	[they] write
4	l-kitāba	ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ	the book / scripture
5	bi-aydīhim	بِأَيْدِيهِمْ	with their (own) hands
6	thumma	ثُمَّ	then,
7	yaqūlūna	يَقُولُونَ	they say,
8	hādhā	هَـٰذَا	“This
9	min	مِنْ	from
10	ʿindi	عِندِ	[at]
11	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God,”
12	liyashtarū	لِيَشْتَرُوا۟	that they may acquire
13	bihi	بِهِۦ	with it
14	thamanan	ثَمَنًا	(for) a price
15	qalīlan	قَلِيلًا	little (cheap).
16	fawaylun	فَوَيْلٌ	So woe
17	lahum	لَّهُم	to them
18	mimmā	مِّمَّا	for what
19	katabat	كَتَبَتْ	[it] wrote
20	aydīhim	أَيْدِيهِمْ	their hands
21	wawaylun	وَوَيْلٌ	and woe
22	lahum	لَّهُم	to them
23	mimmā	مِّمَّا	for what
24	yaksibūna	يَكْسِبُونَ	they earn / acquire.

This definitively shows that the word ummy cannot be one who is illiterate as this would be a contradiction. However, if we apply the understanding of gentile, then the meaning and interpretation of the verses become perfectly clear and consistent.