Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Al-An'am -> The Meaning of Umam

Allah said,

﴿وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَـلُكُمْ﴾

(There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are Umam like you.) Mujahid commented, "Meaning, various species that have distinct names.'' Qatadah said, "Birds are an Ummah, humans are an Ummah and the Jinns are an Ummah.'' As-Suddi said that,

﴿إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَـلُكُمْ﴾

(but are Umam like you.) means, creations (or species). Allah's statement,

﴿مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى الكِتَـبِ مِن شَىْءٍ﴾

(We have neglected nothing in the Book,) means, the knowledge about all things is with Allah, and He never forgets any of His creatures, nor their sustenance, nor their affairs, whether these creatures live in the sea or on land. In another Ayah, Allah said;

﴿وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴾

(And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus, grave, etc.). All is in a Clear Book.) ﴿11:6﴾, there is a record of their names, numbers, movements, and lack of movement. In another Ayah, Allah said;

﴿وَكَأَيِّن مِّن دَآبَّةٍ لاَّ تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴾

(And so many a moving creature there is, that carries not its own provision! Allah provides for it and for you. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) ﴿29:60﴾ Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah,

﴿ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ﴾

(then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.) "Death gathers them.'' It was also said that the Day of Resurrection gathers them, for in another Ayah, Allah said;

﴿وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ ﴾

(And when the wild beasts shall be gathered together.) ﴿81:5﴾ `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abu Hurayrah said about Allah's statement,

﴿إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَـلُكُمْ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى الكِتَـبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ﴾

(but are Umam like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.) "All creatures will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, the beasts, birds and all others. Allah's justice will be so perfect, that the un-horned sheep will receive retribution from the horned sheep. Allah will then command them, `Be dust!' This is when the disbeliever will say,

﴿يَـلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَباً﴾

("Woe to me! Would that I were dust!'')''﴿78: 40﴾. And this was reported from the Prophet in the Hadith about the Trumpet.