It is the union of Muslims who believe in the same God and who rely on the same holy book as their guide and who entertain common ideals and mutual responsibilities all around the world. It comprises clans, tribes, races, peoples, locations, languages, regions, etc. Whoever accepts the Islamic faith automatically becomes a member of the Muslim ummah.Ummah is also used to denote “any living community.” It does not matter whether this community convenes voluntarily or involuntarily. The plural of ummah is umam: “No living creature is there moving on the earth, no bird flying on its two wings, but they are communities [umam] like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book [the Quran, the Supreme Ever-Preserved Tablet, which is the source of all books, and the Book of Creation: We have created everything just in its place and for a purpose, so that the universe is maintained in perfect balance and order]. Then, [a Day will come when the universe will be changed into a new one, and] they will be raised from the dead and gathered to their Lord” (6:38). We gather from this verse that animals have their specific lifestyles.
Another verse reads: “Humankind were [in the beginning] one community [ummah] [following one way of life without disputing over provision and other similar things. Later, differences arose]” (2:213). Ummah, referred to in this verse, represents a homogeneous community which has collectively agreed to follow a certain way. The Quran also says: “We have sent down to you [O Messenger] the Book with the truth [embodying it, and with nothing false in it], confirming [the Divine authorship of and truths that are still contained in] whatever of the Book was revealed before if, and guarding over [all the true teachings in] it. Judge, then, between them by what God has sent down [to you], and do not follow their lusts and fancies away from the truth that has come to you. For each [community (ummah) to which a Messenger was sent with a Book]... And if God had so willed, He would surely have made you a single community [ummah] [following the same way of life and system surrounded by the same conditions throughout all history]; but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by what He granted to you [and thereby made you subject to a law of progress]. Strive then, together as if competing in good works. To God is the return of all of you, and He will then make you understand [the truth] about what you differed on” (5:48).
“Abraham was an exemplary leader, [whose self-dedication to the good of his community made him] as if a community” (16:120). The definition of Prophet Abraham as an “ummah” implies that his pure faith and sincere obedience to God could replace the collective faith and obedience of an ummah. When we say that a certain man is a tribe, this means that this man can perform in his own initiative the work or deeds of a tribe or he equals a tribe in this regard.
“[Yet] there are not all alike: among the People of the Book there is an upright community [ummah], reciting God’s Revelations in the watches of the night and prostrating [themselves in worship]. They believe in God and the Last Day, and enjoin and promote what is good and forbid and try to prevent the evil, and hasten to do good deeds as if competing with one another. Those are of the righteous ones. Whatever good they do, they will never be denied the reward of it; and God has full knowledge of the God-revering pious” (3:113-115). In this verse, the word “ummah” corresponds to “a community” from the People of the Book, i.e., Jews and Christians. The distinguishing characteristic of this community is that they have laudable moral qualities. In the Quranic perspective, Jews and Christians do not categorically represent evil; therefore, it is wrong to judge them with reference to their religion or beliefs.
Surprisingly, “ummah” may also denote a “political union” depending on the context. This consensual union may contain Muslims and non-Muslims simultaneously. Thus, Article 2 of the Charter of Medina, a contract prepared by Prophet Muhammad and signed in Medina among various groups also including Jews, defines ummah as follows: “They [the signatories of this Charter] are one community [ummah] to the exclusion of all [other] men.” Here ummah signifies a community of people who gather together in agreement and consensus and who are willing to coexist, also including Jews and polytheist Arabs who had freedman (mawali) status
No other religion has defined a common consensual political partnership with the practitioners of other religions and used its most pivotal term (ummah) to describe it. This was applied in concrete terms by the Prophet Muhammad.
