Was the Prophet Muhammad illiterate, and what is the meaning of the word "ummi" in the Quran and the Torah's context? And are there Quranic and historical proofs indicating his knowledge of reading and writing?

The illiteracy of the Prophet (peace be upon him), meaning that he could neither read nor write, is firmly established by the Holy Quran. This was a miracle and a perfection in his regard, as it served as proof that what he brought forth was from the revelation of Allah, not from human learning. If he had been able to read and write, there would have been doubt about the source of his knowledge. Scholars have unanimously agreed on his illiteracy before his prophethood.

As for after his prophethood, they differed. Some held the view that he learned to read and write, citing certain hadiths and narrations as evidence, such as Al-Sha’bi's statement: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not die until he wrote," and the incident of Hudaybiyyah where he erased the phrase "Messenger of Allah" with his own hand. These scholars believed that this did not contradict his illiteracy but rather added to his miracles. However, the majority held that he never wrote or read a single letter, and that "wrote" in the Hudaybiyyah hadith meant "ordered to write." They emphasized that his illiteracy was a proof against those who denied him, and that his learning to write afterward would contradict this miracle and raise suspicions.

As for reading and studying, it does not necessarily mean reading from a book; rather, it could mean oral recitation or discussing the verses of Allah.