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Hanif

This article is about the Islamic term for pre-Islamic Abrahamic monotheists. For the Islamic school of jurisprudence, see Hanafi. For other uses, see Hanif (disambiguation).
For broader coverage of this topic, see Monotheism in pre-Islamic Arabia.

In Islam, the terms ḥanīf (SING; Arabic: حنيف, lit. 'a renunciate [of idolatry]') and ḥunafā' (PLUR; حنفاء) are primarily used to refer to pre-Islamic Arabians who were Abrahamic monotheists. These people are regarded in a favourable light for shunning Arabian polytheism and solely worshipping the God of Abraham,[1] thus setting themselves apart from what is known as jahiliyyah. However, it is emphasized that they were not associated with Judaism or Christianity—and instead adhered to a unique monotheistic faith that exemplified the unaltered beliefs and morals of Abraham. The word is found twelve times in the Quran: ten times in the singular form and twice in the plural form.[2] According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad himself was a ḥanīf (before he met the angel Gabriel) and a direct descendant of Abraham's eldest son Ishmael.[3] Likewise, all Islamic prophets and messengers before Muhammad—that is, those affiliated with Judaism and/or Christianity, such as Moses and Jesus—are classified as ḥunafā' to underscore their God-given infallibility.[3]

  1. ^ Köchler 1982, p. 29.
  2. ^ Bell, Richard (1949). "Muslim World, Volume XXIX, 1949, pp. 120-125". Muslim World. XXIX: 120–125.
  3. ^ a b See:
    • Louis Jacobs (1995), p. 272
    • Turner (2005), p. 16

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