The Meaning of Islam

It is necessary, before explaining the facts and the pillars of Islam, to elaborate and understand the meaning of the name, Islam.

The word Islam has many meanings. It means submission, safety, and peace. In this study, when we mention the word Islam, it means the religion that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) revealed to His Prophet Mohammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) gave “Islam” this name, because it concludes a total submission to Him (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) only, obedience to His rules, and following His commandments.

This name does not come from the name of a prophet or a country, but from the characteristic of total submission to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), which was, is, and ever shall be.

Islam is Allah’s (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) religion, which He revealed to all prophets. All of them were expounding the same bases, which declare the oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), glorifying Him, worshipping Him, following His commandments, keeping high morals, and improving human behaviour. The differences that we see in religions today are because of suppression of the truth and the alteration of Allah’s (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) previous messages.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) gave this noble name “Islam” to men of faith for all time. He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says, “It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation)” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-Hajj 22:78) for, the Muslim (the believer of any of Allah’s (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) prophets) would observe the Islamic law, submit his will to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), obey Him, and follow His commandments. Noah (alaihis salam), the father of the prophets, said to his people, “and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah's will (in Islam).” (Holy Qur’an Surah Yunus 10:72) and Abraham and his son Ishmael (alaihumas salam) continuously prayed asking Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to make them Muslims. “Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will)” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah 2:128).

Jacob (alaihis salam) gathered his children before he died and advised them to hold and follow Abraham’s (alaihis salam) religion, Islam. “Behold! his Lord said to him: "Bow (thy will to Me):" He said: "I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe. And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam. Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship Thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac,- the one (True) God: To Him we bow (in Islam).” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah 2:131-133).

Moses (alaihis salam) also asked his people to obey the Islamic Laws, which they accepted. He said, “O my people! If ye do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust if ye submit (your will to His).” (Holy Qur’an Surah Yunus 10:84) and Pharaoh’s magicians accepted his call and said, “Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)!” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-A’raf 7:126).

Joseph (alaihis salam) asked Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to help him be a Muslim until he died and to gather him with the righteous Muslims.

“Take Thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous.” (Holy Qur’an Surah Yusuf 12:101).

When the Queen of Saba’ entered Solomon’s (alaihis salam) palace and saw the signs of his prophet-hood, she said, “O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds.” (Holy Qur’an Surah An-Naml 27:44).

The final Prophet, Mohammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), clarified the oneness of the prophets’ religions. He said, “I am more entitled to Jesus the son of Mary than anyone in this life and in the Hereafter, all prophets are brothers, they are from different mothers, but their religion is one.” [1]

Thus, the religion of all prophets is one religion, built on one base, which is to believe in the oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), to worship Him alone, and to bow to his commandments.

This is Islam, the religion that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) accepts, as He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says, “The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will)” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-‘Imran 3:19) and He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will not accept other religion. “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-‘Imran 3:85).

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says to Prophet Mohammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), “Say: "I am no bringer of new-fangled doctrine among the apostles.” (Holy Qur’an Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:9) For, the base of what he (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) declared is the same as what his prophet-hood brothers declared. “We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.” (Holy Qur’an Surah An-Nisa' 4:163).