booke

470chapter sixidentity. (‘All people were originally one single community [ummat an ],but later they differed…’, Yånus 10:19, AH.) The term umma canalso be used to refer to smaller social units, for example, to a group,circle or club. But its defining characteristic is always that its membersshare a common activity, as in 28:23, where the ‘group of menin Madyan’ were all ‘watering their flocks’. 135 Furthermore, the Booksays:Abraham was indeed a model [ummat an ], devoutly obedient to God,(and) true in faith, and he joined not gods with God: * He showed hisgratitude for the favours of God, who chose him, and guided him toa straight way. * And We gave him good in this world, and he will be,in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the righteous. * So We have taughtyou the inspired (message), “Follow the ways of Abraham the true infaith, and he joined not gods with God.” ( Al-NaÈl 16:120-3)The verse describes Abraham as a model for a community (umma)which God wants us to emulate. Abraham’s model, his distinctivesocial behaviour, is characterised by four aspects: a) devout obedienceto God; b) ÈanÊfiyya attitude in general and ÈanÊfiyya rejection ofidolatry in particular; c) gratitude for the favours of God; and d)guidance to the straight path. Allah’s command to follow Abraham’smodel was sent down as revelation directly into MuÈammad’s (ß)brain. The Book describes Abraham even as an ‘im§m to the nations’, 136and it says k§n a ummat an , implying that he embodies a collective identity—thathis behaviour represents a path, course, or tradition thatunites people who belong to his umma. 137 God has made it incumbenton everyone to follow his example (“Follow the ways of Abrahamthe true in faith…”, Al-NaÈl 16:123). Verses 16:120 and 16:123reiterate twice why we should emulate Abraham’s example: because‘he joined not gods with God’. This constitutes the shared value ofAbraham’s community. A full commitment to this value expresses aperson’s wal§" (likeness) to this community. If we look around andsee who today would belong to Abraham’s ÈanÊfiyya community thatdoes ‘not join gods with God’, we would have to frankly admit that135‘And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there agroup of men [ummat an min al-n§s] watering (their flocks)…’ ( Al-Qaßaß 28:23).136‘And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands,which he fulfilled: He said: “I will make you an Imam to the nations”…’ ( Al-Baqara2:124).137‘No! They say: “We found our fathers upon this course [ummat in ], and we areactually following in their footsteps”’ ( Al-Zukhruf 43:22).