What does Islam mean?
Islam is a way of life built on one idea: trusting and following the One God who made you. This lesson gives you the whole picture in a few minutes.
What the words mean
Three words
Islam
Submitting to God, and the peace that comes from it. It comes from the same Arabic root as the word for peace.
Muslim
Someone who submits to God. It is a description, not a label of a tribe or a culture.
Allah
The Arabic word for God. You will see more on this in the next lesson.
The core in one picture
What Islam asks of a person
Believe
In one God, and in the messengers He sent to guide people.
Worship
Pray and turn to Him directly, with no middleman.
Be good
Honest, kind, and fair to everyone, because God sees all.
A family of faiths
Muslims do not see Islam as a brand new religion. They believe it is the same message that Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them, brought: worship the One God. Islam honors Jews and Christians as People of the Book, and the Quran tells Muslims to speak with them kindly.
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
Quran 29:46 (Saheeh International translation)
Muslims and Christians still differ on some points, such as who Jesus is. You will look at that honestly in a later step.
Six beliefs and five practices
The six beliefs
God
There is only one.
Angels
Beings made of light who serve God.
Books
The scriptures God revealed, ending with the Quran.
Messengers
The prophets, from Adam to Muhammad.
Last Day
Everyone returns to God and is judged fairly.
Divine decree
Nothing happens outside God's knowledge and plan.
The five pillars of practice
Declaration of faith
Say that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger.
Prayer
Five short prayers a day.
Charity
Give a small share of savings to those in need each year.
Fasting
No food or drink from dawn to sunset in Ramadan.
Pilgrimage
A journey to Makkah once in a lifetime, for those who are able.
Do you have to take it all on at once?
No. You are only exploring. Nobody asks you to believe or practice anything here. Take your time and ask any question that comes to mind.
Islam means submitting to the One God who made you, and the peace that follows. It is the same call that Abraham, Moses, and Jesus brought.
Next, you will look at the heart of Islam: who God is.
