Define the Term Muslim and Isam
“Define the term Muslim and Islam?”
In Arabic, the word “Islam” means submission or surrender to God. However, it was derived from the root word “salam”. From this root word, you can also derive the word peace. Many people feel that Islam implies some sort of enslavement to Allah, but others find it more helpful to define the word “Islam” as surrender. Many religions have a concept of surrender to God. In Jewish history, when the ancient Hebrews obeyed God’s commands, they had a long period of prosperity and stability. In Christianity, surrendering to God is a way of putting your life into more capable hands, in fact, Jesus asked many of his disciples to surrender their livelihoods and follow him.
When we look at the word ‘Islam’ in this way, we can understand why obeying Allah’s commands and trusting in Allah’s wisdom could bring about peace for a Muslim. The word does not represent a one-sided relationship, where the believer is enslaved to Allah. Rather, the word Islam indicates a covenant or promise between Allah and his followers, where a Muslim surrenders his or her will to Allah in return for peace or safety. This submission requires a fully conscious and willing effort to submit to the one Almighty God. One must consciously and carefully give oneself to the service of Allah. This means to act on what Allah enjoins all of us to do in the Qur'an and what His beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) encouraged us to do.
Islam is not only a way of life but also the religion chosen by Almighty Allah for his people. Allah has put the religion Islam as his site. This religion was brought down by Adam (A.S) when he descended from the heaven onto the earth. Islam is the religion which had been brought down from day one and due to the appreciation and lack of guidance, people went astray. Allah himself says that prophets who are thought to be God by some, e.g. Ibrahim is neither a Jew nor a Christian as he inclined for the truth, being a monotheist. Allah (S.W.T) says
In Arabic, the word “Islam” means submission or surrender to God. However, it was derived from the root word “salam”. From this root word, you can also derive the word peace. Many people feel that Islam implies some sort of enslavement to Allah, but others find it more helpful to define the word “Islam” as surrender. Many religions have a concept of surrender to God. In Jewish history, when the ancient Hebrews obeyed God’s commands, they had a long period of prosperity and stability. In Christianity, surrendering to God is a way of putting your life into more capable hands, in fact, Jesus asked many of his disciples to surrender their livelihoods and follow him.
When we look at the word ‘Islam’ in this way, we can understand why obeying Allah’s commands and trusting in Allah’s wisdom could bring about peace for a Muslim. The word does not represent a one-sided relationship, where the believer is enslaved to Allah. Rather, the word Islam indicates a covenant or promise between Allah and his followers, where a Muslim surrenders his or her will to Allah in return for peace or safety. This submission requires a fully conscious and willing effort to submit to the one Almighty God. One must consciously and carefully give oneself to the service of Allah. This means to act on what Allah enjoins all of us to do in the Qur'an and what His beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) encouraged us to do.
Islam is not only a way of life but also the religion chosen by Almighty Allah for his people. Allah has put the religion Islam as his site. This religion was brought down by Adam (A.S) when he descended from the heaven onto the earth. Islam is the religion which had been brought down from day one and due to the appreciation and lack of guidance, people went astray. Allah himself says that prophets who are thought to be God by some, e.g. Ibrahim is neither a Jew nor a Christian as he inclined for the truth, being a monotheist. Allah (S.W.T) says