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Definition: The Arabic term 'islam means "submission" and itself comes from the term 'aslama, which means "to surrender, resign oneself." The word is used as the name of the religion created by Muhammad between 610 and 635 CE. Muhammad himself is recorded in the Qur'an as instituting the name:
Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam for your religion. (5:5)
The word islam is also used as one of the three fundamental aspects of this religion: iman (belief), practice (islam) and ihsan (virtue). Here, islam is used as the equivalent of ibadah, which refers to acts of worship - in other words, the Five Pillars of Islam. In Islam, the most fundamental duty of each member is to submit to Allah (Arabic for "the God") and whatever Allah wants of them. A person who follows Islam is called a Muslim, and this means "one who surrenders to God."
Linguistically, the term Islam is related to the Syriac 'aslem which means "to make peace, surrender" and that in turn appears to be derived from the Semtic stem of slem which means to be complete.
Islam is closely related to the Arabic word for peace, salem. Muslims believe that true peace can only be achieved through true obedience to the will of Allah. Commitment to Islam is supposed to result in a constant struggle to achieve peace, justice and equality.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Islam?
What is Islam? What do Muslims believe? Where did Islam come from? What is jihad? Find the answers to these questions and more in our Islam FAQ.
