Table of Contents
Understanding the Definition of Islam
Islam as Submission to Allah
In the context of faith, Islam means willing submission, obedience, and surrender to Allah alone, with love and humility. It is not a name invented by people, but a name Allah Himself chose for this religion.
Allah says:
"Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam."
(Qur’an 3:19)
And He says:
"This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion."
(Qur’an 5:3)
From these verses we learn that Islam is the only religion that Allah accepts from His servants, and that it is based on submission to Him as the one true Lord and God.
The Prophet ﷺ explained that submission is not only outward actions, but a sincere yielding of the heart to Allah. A person who truly has Islam accepts Allah as Lord, His Messenger ﷺ as the final authority, and His guidance as the way of life.
Allah describes the true spirit of this submission:
"But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided and submit in full submission."
(Qur’an 4:65)
Islam is therefore not mere identity, culture, or label. It is a state where the heart and the limbs submit to what Allah has revealed.
Islam means willing submission and surrender to Allah alone, accepting His guidance inwardly and outwardly, and obeying Him with love, fear, and hope.
Islam as a Complete Way of Life
Islam is not limited to rituals or spiritual feelings. It covers belief, worship, character, law, and social conduct. It guides a person in his or her relationship with Allah, with oneself, and with all of creation.
Allah says:
"Say, 'Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.'"
(Qur’an 6:162–163)
This verse shows how Islam shapes every part of life: prayer, acts of devotion, daily living, and even the way a person faces death. All are to be sincerely for Allah alone.
Another verse describes Islam as a path that must be entered fully, not partly:
"O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy."
(Qur’an 2:208)
To “enter into Islam completely” means that a Muslim does not choose only the parts of the religion that suit personal desires while leaving the rest. Instead, one strives to align beliefs, actions, and morals with the guidance of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Islam in the Tongue and the Heart
The essence of entering Islam is expressed through the testimony of faith. This is covered in detail under the chapter on the Shahādah, but here we note that the Prophet ﷺ connected the outward statement with inward conviction.
He said:
"I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer, and pay the zakah. If they do that, their blood and wealth are protected from me except by right of Islam, and their account is with Allah."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This ḥadīth shows that Islam begins with a clear declaration, followed by practice of its main obligations. At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ made it clear that real Islam lives inside the heart.
He said:
"Verily, in the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
So, in defining Islam we recognize two levels. There is the outward Islam, which is visible in a person’s declaration and basic practices, and there is the inner Islam, which is the heart’s true surrender to Allah. This inner reality is studied more deeply under the topic of īmān, but it is important to know that the perfection of Islam requires both.
Islam is not only words on the tongue or rituals of the body. It is words, actions, and a heart that surrenders sincerely to Allah.
Islam and Peace
Linguistically, Islam is closely connected to the word “salām,” which means peace, safety, and security. Through submission to Allah, a person finds real peace. This peace begins in the heart, then spreads to how one deals with others.
Allah calls to this peace through Islam:
"And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path."
(Qur’an 10:25)
The “Home of Peace” is Paradise, and the “straight path” is the path of Islam. The greeting of the people of Paradise is also peace:
"Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be, 'Peace.'"
(Qur’an 33:44)
This connection shows that Islam is a path of peace that leads to eternal peace with Allah. It does not mean that a Muslim will never face difficulty in this world. Instead, it means that through trust in Allah and obedience to Him, the heart gains a deeper, truer peace that does not depend on changing worldly conditions.
The Prophet ﷺ also linked Islam with spreading peace among people. He said:
"You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
So, a correct understanding of Islam shows it as a religion that builds peaceful hearts and peaceful communities, grounded in the worship of Allah alone.
The Basic Outer Definition of Islam
In one famous ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ was asked directly, "What is Islam?" This report is central to understanding the basic definition of Islam on the level of outward actions.
In the ḥadīth of Jibrīl, it is narrated:
"He (Jibrīl) said, 'Inform me about Islam.' He (the Prophet) said, 'Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, to give the zakah, to fast in Ramaḍān, and to perform ḥajj to the House if you are able to find a way to it.'"
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This ḥadīth gives us a practical definition. Islam, in its basic visible form, is built on these foundational actions, which are known as the pillars of Islam. The detailed study of those pillars comes in another part of this course, but here they show us that Islam is not only belief, but belief that expresses itself in clear and regular acts of worship.
From this ḥadīth, scholars say that when the word "Islam" is used alone, it includes both the outward actions and the inner belief. When it is mentioned together with "īmān" and "iḥsān," as in this report, then each word emphasizes a different aspect. That relationship is explained in the parent chapter, so here we simply note that the Prophet ﷺ himself defined Islam in terms of submission through clear acts of worship.
When asked “What is Islam?”, the Prophet ﷺ defined it by the testimony of faith and the main acts of worship such as prayer, zakah, fasting in Ramaḍān, and ḥajj.
The Name “Muslim” and Belonging to Islam
A person who accepts Islam and submits to Allah is called a Muslim. This name also comes from Allah, not from human invention.
Allah says:
"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 and in this [Qur’an], that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people."
(Qur’an 22:78)
To be a Muslim, in the basic legal sense, is to openly declare the testimony of faith and not oppose it by clear words or actions that remove a person from Islam. The deeper reality of who is a true believer, and the issue of judging faith, is treated under other specific chapters. Here we only emphasize that the very name “Muslim” is tied to the act of submission. A Muslim is one who submits, not one who merely carries a label.
Allah also uses the term to describe those who truly yield to Him:
"Who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend."
(Qur’an 4:125)
This verse brings together three important aspects. First, submitting oneself to Allah. Second, doing good deeds. Third, following the way of the prophets, especially Abraham. All of these are contained within the broad definition of Islam as a religion of submission and obedience.
Islam between Outward Form and Inner Reality
Because Islam includes both outer and inner dimensions, the Qur’an sometimes speaks about people who have “submitted” outwardly while faith has not yet fully entered their hearts.
Allah says:
"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. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'"
(Qur’an 49:14)
In this verse, Islam refers mainly to the visible submission, while īmān refers to the settled inner faith. This difference is discussed in the wider topic of the relationship between Islam, īmān, and iḥsān. For our purpose here, this verse shows that the word “Islam” can sometimes be used in a more specific sense, meaning outward surrender, even if the heart has not yet reached perfection.
The complete and praiseworthy Islam, however, is the one where the outward and inward are in harmony. Allah praises such people:
"Yes, whoever submits his face to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve."
(Qur’an 2:112)
“Submits his face to Allah” means sincerely gives himself fully to Allah, while “being a doer of good” means obeying His commands. This is the ideal form of Islam.
The perfect form of Islam unites outward submission with inward faith and sincerity, so that what is on the tongue, what is in the heart, and what is on the limbs are in agreement for Allah.
Islam as the Path Chosen by Allah for Humanity
Islam is not a new religion brought only for one nation or time. It is the final and completed form of the same submission that all prophets called to. The details of this are explored in the chapter “Islam as the Religion of All Prophets,” but here we note that the Qur’an presents Islam as the chosen path for all human beings.
Allah says:
"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion, never will it be accepted from him, and he will be in the Hereafter among the losers."
(Qur’an 3:85)
This verse makes clear that true success with Allah is tied to accepting Islam. Since Islam means submission to Allah as He has truly revealed Himself, no other man-made path can replace it. It is not a question of ethnicity, language, or region, but of turning to the Lord of all the worlds with correct belief and obedience.
Because of this, the definition of Islam includes accepting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the final Messenger and following his guidance. Whoever knowingly rejects him does not have the Islam that Allah accepts.
Allah says:
"But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided and submit in full submission."
(Qur’an 4:65)
So, to define Islam properly, we must include following the Prophet ﷺ as the way to follow Allah. His teachings are not optional additions, but a necessary part of what Islam means.
Summary of the Definition
Bringing these points together, we can summarize the definition of Islam as follows.
Islam is the religion that Allah has chosen for humanity. It is to submit and surrender to Allah alone with sincere belief, acceptance, and obedience, and to follow the guidance brought by His final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ. This submission shows outwardly through the pillars and acts of worship, and inwardly through faith, sincerity, and trust in Allah. It is a comprehensive way of life offering true peace in the heart and leading to the Home of Peace in the Hereafter.