What is Islam?
Understanding the world's second-largest faith
The Meaning of Islam
The word "Islam" is an Arabic term that translates to "submission" or "surrender" to the will of God. It shares a linguistic root with the Arabic word for peace (salam). Muslims believe that true inner peace is achieved by aligning one's life with the guidance of the Creator. It is a comprehensive way of life that encompasses spirituality, morality, and daily conduct.
Core Beliefs
Islamic theology rests on six core beliefs. The most central is the absolute oneness of God (Allah in Arabic). Muslims also believe in angels, divine scriptures (including original forms of the Torah and Gospel), a long line of prophets chosen to guide humanity, the Day of Judgement where all will be held accountable, and divine decree—the concept that God has ultimate knowledge and authority over all that occurs.
The Abrahamic Connection
Islam is the third of the major Abrahamic faiths, following Judaism and Christianity. Muslims revere many of the same prophetic figures found in the Bible, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. In Islamic tradition, these figures were all prophets who brought the same fundamental message of worshipping one God, culminating in the final message brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
A Global Community
Islam is a truly global faith. There are currently over 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, making up about 24 percent of the global population. While often associated with the Middle East, the largest Muslim populations are actually found in the Asia-Pacific region. For example, Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population with over 230 million adherents, followed by countries like Pakistan and India, highlighting a vast diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions united by a single faith.
Every tradition has a starting point, and exploring these basics is the first step to understanding.