Hanif

In Islam, the terms (|singular form}}; , ) and (|plural form}}; ) 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, thus setting themselves apart from what is known as . However, it is emphasized that they were not associated with Judaism or Christianity—which are described in Islam as originally righteous religions that later corrupted the message of God—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. According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad himself was a (before he met the angel Gabriel) and a direct descendant of Abraham's eldest son Ishmael. 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 to underscore their God-given infallibility. Provided by Wikipedia