Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. It means "one who inclines towards worship." Al-Zajjāj explains: "In the language, *ḥanīf* means one who inclines towards something. From this meaning, a person whose feet are pointed inwards towards one another is called aḥnaf."
2. It means "upright." From this meaning, the Arabs call a lame person ḥanīf as a positive omen for his cure. [Ibn Qutaybah]

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Additionally, the commentators have mentioned various qualities that apply to a person who is ḥanīf:

1. ʿAṭāʾ said he is the one who is "sincere" (*mukhliṣ*)
2. Ibn al-Sāʾib said it refers to "one who performs ḥajj."
3. Others have said it means one who "worships the One God, performs ḥajj, offers sacrifice, is circumcised, and faces the Kaʿbah (in prayer)."