Author: Shaikh Jawad Habib

The word Islam (الإسلام) is derived from the root word s-l-m, which means “submission,” “surrender,” or “peace.” Fundamentally, Islam means “submitting or surrendering one’s will to the will of Allah.” This submission is deeply rooted in the natural inclination (fitrah) of mankind, which was instilled in human beings on the day of their creation. The Holy Qur’an affirms this inherent tendency:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“So set your face firmly towards the religion as a pure natural belief – Allah’s original creation upon which He created mankind. Let there be no change in Allah’s creation. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.”
(Surah Ar-Rum 30:30)

The natural order of the universe — the stars, planets, oceans, and even the biological systems within living beings — operates in perfect harmony with the will of Allah. Modern science refers to these phenomena as “the laws of nature,” but from an Islamic perspective, they are the laws ordained by Allah for His creation:

وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ

“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:116)

Human beings, as part of creation, are also invited to submit their will to Allah in recognition of His wisdom and justice. However, this submission does not mean the suppression of intellect or individuality. Instead, it involves placing trust in Allah’s perfect knowledge and guidance. The Qur’an says:

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

“And put your trust in Allah; and sufficient is Allah as a Disposer of Affairs.”
(Surah Al-Ahzab 33:3)

Islam and Peace

Another meaning of Islam is “peace.” By submitting to the will of Allah, believers attain inner peace and harmony with their surroundings. Allah describes Himself as the source of peace:

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

“He is Allah—there is no deity except Him—the Sovereign, the Pure, the Peace, the Giver of security, the Overseer, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.”
(Surah Al-Hashr 59:23)

Moreover, Allah invites humanity to a state of ultimate peace:

وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَىٰ دَارِ السَّلَامِ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

“And Allah invites to the abode of peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path.”
(Surah Yunus 10:25)

The Universality of Islam

Islam is not a new religion but the same monotheistic faith revealed by Allah to all His prophets, beginning with Adam (peace be upon him). Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim, peace be upon him) was specifically commanded to use the term “Islam” to describe this way of life:

مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ

“It is the religion of your father, Abraham. He [Allah] has named you Muslims, both before and in this [Qur’an].”
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:78)

The Qur’an emphasizes that all prophets were Muslims, submitting entirely to Allah’s will. Prophet Abraham is described as neither a Jew nor a Christian but a Muslim:

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا ۗ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim (submissive to Allah) and was not one of the polytheists.”
(Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:67)

Similarly, Prophet Joseph (Yusuf, peace be upon him) prayed to die in a state of submission:

رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

“My Lord! You have given me [some] authority and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Guardian in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”
(Surah Yusuf 12:101)

Allah confirms in the Qur’an that the only accepted religion before Him is Islam:

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ

“Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
(Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:19)

Becoming a Muslim

To become a Muslim, one must testify:

قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah”
(“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”).

This declaration of faith (Shahada) signifies the beginning of a lifelong commitment to follow Allah’s guidance as revealed in the Qur’an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

The Path to True Faith

Islam is more than a declaration; it requires sincere practice and faith. The Qur’an differentiates between mere submission and true belief:

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا

“The Bedouins say, ‘We have believed.’ Say, ‘You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'”
(Surah Al-Hujurat 49:14)

Imam Ali (peace be upon him), the successor of the Holy Prophet, eloquently described Islam as a progressive journey:

أُعَرِّفُكُمُ الإِسلامَ تَعريفاً لَم يُعَرِّفْهُ أَحَدٌ قَبْلي، الإِسلامُ هُوَ التَّسليمُ، وَالتَّسليمُ هُوَ اليَقينُ، وَاليَقينُ هُوَ التَّصديقُ، وَالتَّصديقُ هُوَ الإِقرارُ، وَالإِقرارُ هُوَ الأَداءُ، وَالأَداءُ هُوَ العَمَلُ.

“Islam is submission, submission is conviction, conviction is affirmation, affirmation is acknowledgment, acknowledgment is the performance of obligations, and the performance of obligations is good deeds.”
(Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 125)

Conclusion

Islam is the natural religion of submission to Allah, rooted in peace and harmony. It was the religion of all prophets, and its principles are universal and timeless. By following Islam, individuals attain spiritual peace and align themselves with the divine order of creation, fulfilling their purpose as servants of the Almighty.

مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ

“And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. It is the religion of your father, Abraham. He named you Muslims before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation].”
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:78)