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What is Islam?

Islam comes from the root word “salam”, meaning peace. It signifies the voluntary submission and surrender to the will of God, and achieving peace with God, oneself, and all of God’s creations. By wholly submitting to God and following His guidance, a Muslim seeks inner peace and harmony.

Islam is not a new religion but the continuation of the truth revealed by God to all His prophets throughout history. For over a billion people worldwide, Islam is not just a personal faith, but a complete way of life. Muslims come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, united by the common purpose of living according to God’s will. Being a Muslim does not require abandoning one’s culture but means embracing the principles of Islam to enhance life and attain peace.

While Arab Muslims are a small minority (less than 15%), Islam is practiced globally. The largest Muslim population is in Indonesia, with significant communities in Africa, Asia, and even parts of Europe, North America, and South America.

The central message of Islam is that worshiping God is the purpose of human life. Free will is a gift from God, allowing individuals to choose to follow Him or not, but everyone will be held accountable for their choices on the Day of Judgment.

Islam teaches that the soul is eternal, giving life to the body. Upon death, the body decays, but the soul lives on, to be reunited with the body on the Day of Resurrection when everyone will be judged for their deeds. Islam emphasizes the importance of nourishing the soul through worship, obedience, and a balanced life, avoiding excessive indulgence in worldly pleasures.

At its core, Islam is a natural way of life, encouraging a harmonious relationship with God and His creations. By doing good deeds and seeking God’s pleasure, Muslims find true happiness and peace. The word Islam, rooted in peace, reflects the faith’s essence striving for peace with God, oneself, and the world.

Islam teaches that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One True God.

Muslims believe in One God a Unique, Merciful, and Incomparable Creator who is the Sustainer and Cherisher of the entire universe. Their core beliefs include:

  • Angels created by God
  • Prophets and Messengers who conveyed God’s guidance to humanity
  • Divine Scriptures revealed throughout history
  • The Day of Judgment and individual accountability
  • God’s complete authority over destiny, both good and bad
  • Life after death

Muslims believe that God sent prophets to every nation, delivering messages suited to their time and place. Many of the prophets mentioned in the Bible are also honored in Islam, including:
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, John the Baptist, and Jesus peace be upon them all.

The final and complete message of God was revealed to the last prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), through the Archangel Gabriel. This final revelation, preserved in the Qur’an, confirms and completes all previous messages.

To become a Muslim, one declares:
“There is no deity except God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

This simple statement affirms belief in one God, acceptance of all His prophets, and the divine scriptures revealed to them.

Allah is the Arabic name for God the One true Creator, worshipped by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. In fact, Allah is the same God who was worshipped by the prophets Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

The Qur’an highlights this shared belief:

“Say: We believe in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit.”
— Qur’an 29:46
The name Allah is unique:

  • It has no plural,
  • No gender,
  • And it conveys the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God.

This name existed even before the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and similar forms such as El, Eloh, or Elohim were used in earlier scriptures.

The Qur’an beautifully describes Allah in these verses:

“He is Allah, there is no deity but Him Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. He is Allah there is no deity but Him the King, the Holy, the Source of Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the Protector, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah, far above what they associate with Him. He is Allah the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”
Qur’an 59:22–24

In Islam, Allah is not a distant or impersonal force. He is close, merciful, loving, and actively involved in the lives of His creation.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Makkah in the year 570 CE, during what Europeans refer to as the Middle Ages. He belonged to the respected Quraysh tribe and was a direct descendant of Prophet Ishmael, the eldest son of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon them both).

Muhammad’s early life was marked by hardship. His father, Abdullah, passed away before he was born, and his mother, Aaminah, died when he was just six years old. Orphaned at a young age, he was first raised by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, the chief of Makkah, and later by his uncle, Abu Talib, who continued to support and protect him throughout his early life.

As a youth, Muhammad worked as a shepherd, and as he matured, he earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, and reliability. His community honored him with the title Al-Amin, meaning “the Trustworthy.” People often turned to him for help in settling disputes and offering wise counsel.

At the age of 25, Muhammad married Khadijah, a noble and successful businesswoman. Their marriage was loving and strong. Together, they had six children two sons and four daughters. Khadijah was his closest supporter and companion during the earliest years of his prophethood.

Muhammad had a reflective and spiritual nature. Disturbed by the moral decay and injustice in his society, he would often retreat to the Cave of Hira, located on Jabal an-Nur (the “Mountain of Light”) near Makkah. There, he would spend time in quiet meditation, seeking truth and guidance.

It was during one of these retreats that the first revelations of the Qur’an were revealed to him marking the beginning of his mission as the final messenger of God to humanity.

Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the literal word of God (Allah) a complete and final revelation sent to humanity. It was revealed over a period of 23 years to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the Archangel Gabriel (Jibreel).

The Qur’an was memorized by the Prophet and many of his companions, dictated to scribes, and carefully recorded during his lifetime. It was meticulously reviewed and cross-checked, ensuring its preservation. To this day, not a single word of its 114 chapters (surahs) has been altered. The Qur’an remains exactly as it was revealed more than fourteen centuries ago, unchanged and preserved in its original Arabic.

The Qur’an is the primary source of faith and guidance for Muslims. It addresses all aspects of life spiritual, moral, legal, and social. While it contains teachings on wisdom, worship, and ethics, its central message is the relationship between God and His creation.

Beyond spiritual guidance, the Qur’an also provides a framework for justice, personal conduct, and fair economic practices all aimed at building a balanced and compassionate society.

“He has sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) in truth, confirming what was revealed before it. And He sent down the Torah (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) as guidance for humankind. And He sent down the Criterion (the Qur’an).”
— Qur’an 3:3–4

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