The meaning of the word islam?

Question

When people are arguing against islam, they often say that islam means Submission as if this somehow proved something. i want to clarify that it is submission to Allah (God), and not to any person. Thats why a muslims is one who submits to God. Why is this offensive? did you think it meant to force people to submission? if so, after reading this do you still believe that?? thank you and please no disrespect

Answer 1

The word ISLAM has a two-fold meaning: peace, and submission to God. This submission requires a fully conscious and willing effort to submit to the one Almighty God. One must consciously and conscientiously give oneself to the service of Allah. This means to act on what Allah enjoins all of us to do (in the Qur'an) and what His beloved Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged us to do in his Sunnah (his lifestyle and sayings personifying the Qur'an).

Once we humble ourselves, rid ourselves of our egoism and submit totally to Allah, and to Him exclusively, in faith and in action, we will surely feel peace in our hearts. Establishing peace in our hearts will bring about peace in our external conduct as well.

Islam is careful to remind us that it not a religion to be paid mere lip service; rather it is an all-encompassing way of life that must be practiced continuously for it to be Islam. The Muslim must practice the five pillars of the religion: the declaration of faith in the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh), prayer, fasting the month of Ramadan, alms-tax, and the pilgrimage to Makkah; and believe in the six articles of faith: belief in God, the Holy Books, the prophets, the angels, the Day of Judgment and God's decree, whether for good or ill.

There are other injunctions and commandments which concern virtually all facets of one's personal, family and civic life. These include such matters as diet, clothing, personal hygeine, interpersonal relations, business ethics, responsibilities towards parents, spouse and children, marriage, divorce and inheritance, civil and criminal law, fighting in defense of Islam, relations with non-Muslims, and so much more.

Answer 2

You are right as far as the actual meaning of the word Islam. For the record, I am not offended by it or by your submission to Allah (who for the record is NOT the same as the Judeo-Christian God). I a trying to study and learn as much as I can about the Islamic faith.

However, what I am offended by is the desire of many Muslims to kill me, my family and everyone I know because we do not follow their belief system. I am offended by the way Muslims discriminate against non-Muslims and actually believe them to be a lower class of human. I find it offensive the acceptable treatment of women.

Now, as I have said, I am willing to learn and if my studies have taught me incorrectly, than please educate me. I have learned what I have through reading many translations of the Koran and several dissertations concerning topics within the Koran.

Answer 3

Islam does not mean submission it means peace. The 5th attribute of Allah is Al Salaamu- The Peaceful not the submitter because Allah cannot sbmit to anyone or anything!

Answer 4

Islam comes from the word SALAM which means peace...
Allah is the greatest..
To be Muslim is to be in submission and obedience to God. He is the one God who has no partner. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not the created, nor a part of His creation. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just, All-Knowing, All-Merciful, the Supreme, the Sovereign. There is no entity worthy of worship besides Him

Answer 5

Well, it is not Mohamadism after all..Thanks god....or Mohamadianity Islam comes out from the word peace (salam) in arabic.

Answer 6

I understand that it means submission to the will of God.

There is so much misunderstanding about Islam in this culture.

For example, the word Jihad means, in the Koran, the eternal struggle of an individual against his or her own evil propensities.

Answer 7

Why do you ask it if u know it? Islam is probably the most "pure" religion there is.
However i am a catholic christian and i belive the problem is not the religion, the problem sometimes are the people who "teaches" religion.
They behave like pharisees and give more importance to the letter in the Law that the Spirit of the Law itself.

Answer 8

Good point sister!

There is a clear distinction who Muslims submit their will to. They submit their will to The Creator of the Universe, and everything in existence...

Answer 9

If it's not forced, why do they hunt down those who leave it?
Why do they mame those who disagree with them?
Since it's not forced submission, then tell me why they fight amongst themselves & kill each other?
If it's not forced, then why do they desecrate holy sites of other religions?
If it's not forced, why do the Muslim countries forbid churches or church bells to ring, or to allow active synagogues?
Why do they make it unsafe for those of the Jewish faith; or is it because Muslims see them as infidels?
I was just in a Muslim country last week. There was a tangible oppression there. You cannot deny this.
If it's not forced; why do Muslim women wear burkas?

Answer 10

this ppl are ignorant --they do not even wana learn---they have only a hate agenda that they are working on ---that's about it-------

they are blinded with some fake info produced by christian right wingers and some cons---to spread lies about Islam .
May be jelous from the spread and growth of islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gtb6qWWpRE&mode=related&search=