the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was made up first and foremost of the Arabs. Through them, the call reached the other nations, for he was sent speaking their language. They were generally unlettered, possessing no distinction in learning, scripture, or anything else, although their innate dispositions were more fully prepared to receive knowledge than those of other nations. They were like arable land ready for cultivation but with no one to tend it. They had neither a scripture revealed by Allah to read, as the People of the Book did, nor sciences derived through reasoning, as the Sabians and others did. Writing was exceedingly rare among them. They possessed such knowledge as is accessible through innate disposition, which does not take a person beyond general al-umūma: knowledge of the Creator, glorified is He; esteem for noble character; and knowledge of the stars’ seasonal weather patterns, genealogy, and poetry. Thus, they merited the designation of unlettered in every respect.

As He said of them:

“It is He who sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves.”

And Allah Most High said:

“And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the unlettered, ‘Have you submitted yourselves?’ If they submit, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message.”

He thus contrasted the unlettered with the People of the Book: someone belonging to the People of the Book is distinct from someone who is unlettered. When the Prophet was sent among them, they became obliged to follow the Book he brought, to reflect upon it, understand it, and act upon it—Allah having made it an explanation of everything, and their Prophet having taught them everything, even how to relieve themselves. They therefore became people of scripture and knowledge. Indeed, they became the most knowledgeable of all people