The word Islam comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, which carries meanings of peace, safety, submission, and harmony. In the Qur’an and Sunnah, Islam means to submit to Allah with sincerity, humility, and obedience — following His guidance as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ was asked, “What is Islam?” He replied:
“To submit to Allah, testify there is no god except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, establish prayer,
give zakāh, fast in Ramadan, and perform Hajj if able.”
— Sahih Muslim
Thus, Islam is both:
Islam is built on five foundational acts that structure a Muslim’s life:
These pillars are not the full religion; they are the core practices upon which the rest is built.
While Islam focuses on practice, īmān focuses on belief. The Prophet ﷺ said faith includes:
This is the internal foundation that gives the external actions meaning, purpose, and sincerity.
Allah tells us directly:
“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.”
— Qur’an 51:56
Worship (ʿibādah) is not only prayer — it includes:
Islam teaches that this worldly life is temporary, and the real success is in the Hereafter. But Islam also guides us on how to live responsibly and uprightly in the dunya.
Islam is not only a belief system or a set of rituals. It is a complete way of life covering:
Muslims strive to follow the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ as a path toward inner peace, purpose, and closeness to Allah.
Islam begins with:
And it is completed by righteous action, good manners, and striving to become better every day.