Islam is submission and surrender to the will of God (Allah), and the monotheistic faith centred on the Qur'an and the prophethood of Muhammad. It encompasses both inner orientation toward the Divine and outward practice through the Five Pillars and Islamic law (Shariah).
From the Arabic root s-l-m, Islam derives from the verbal noun islām, meaning 'submission' or 'surrender.' The same root yields salām (peace) and muslim (one who submits), reflecting the peace that comes from aligning oneself with God's will.
Surrender to God's will — Both traditions centre on submission to the Divine—expressed in Christianity through phrases like 'thy will be done' (Matthew 6:10) and lived monastically as obedience, though the theological frameworks differ significantly.
Acceptance of the yoke of Heaven — The Rabbinic concept of accepting 'ol malkhut shamayim' (the yoke of the kingdom of heaven) parallels Islam's emphasis on willingly aligning oneself with God's law and purpose.
Prapatti or Sharanagati — In some Hindu contexts, surrender to the Divine (as in Bhakti or the path of Shankara's disciple Padmapada) mirrors the inner attitude of islām, though the non-dualistic framework understands the Self and God differently.
Fana (annihilation of self) — The Sufi path deepens islām into experiential dissolution of ego-will into God's will, a mystical intensity of the same basic surrender.
A living Muslim seeks to embody islām through daily prayer (salāt), fasting, almsgiving, and ethical conduct, while inwardly cultivating ihsān—the consciousness that one is always in God's presence. This integrates both formal observance and heart-devotion, making submission not a constraint but a liberation into purposeful living aligned with transcendent truth.
What does the word Islam literally mean?
Islam means 'submission' or 'surrender' (from the Arabic root s-l-m), specifically the submission of one's will to God (Allah) and acceptance of His guidance.
Is Islam the same as Christianity or Judaism?
No. While Islam shares Abrahamic roots and reverences many figures honoured in Judaism and Christianity, it has distinct theology (particularly regarding God's oneness and Jesus's nature), scripture (the Qur'an), and prophetic tradition (culminating in Muhammad).
Can someone practice Islam without formal ritual?
Islamic tradition holds that both inner faith (imān) and outward practice (islām) are essential; the Five Pillars and ethical conduct are binding, though interpretations of their application vary across schools of Islamic law.
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