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“O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God’s sight is the most righteous of you.”

— Quran (49:13)

Deepen your understanding of Islam

The Meaning of "Islam"

The word “Islam” derives from the Arabic root “s-l-m,” which has multiple interconnected meanings. At its core, “Islam” means both “submission” and “peace.” This dual meaning reveals something profound about the faith itself – that inner peace comes through willing submission to God’s guidance.

What is Islam?

Islam is more than just a religion—it is a way of life, guiding every aspect of a believer’s existence. Rooted in monotheism, Islam teaches that there is only one God (Allah), who created everything and is the ultimate source of guidance. 

Islam is a faith of clarity, balance, and purpose. It offers a direct relationship with Allah, a moral compass, and guidance for every aspect of life.

Who is a Muslim?

A Muslim is anyone who submits to Allah’s will and follows Islam. Islam is not limited to any race or nationality—it is a universal faith. Muslims follow the teachings of the Quran and the example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the final messenger of Allah.

🌍 1.9 billion people worldwide follow Islam, making it the second-largest religion globally.

The Core Beliefs of Islam

1. Belief in Allah (Tawheed)

At Islam’s heart lies absolute monotheism – the conviction that God is One, indivisible, and unlike anything in creation. This concept, called Tawheed, permeates every aspect of Islamic thought.

God, referred to as Allah in Arabic, is the only Deity worthy of worship and unconditional obedience. Allah is the creator of the universe, and has complete authority over all that exists. While Allah has given humanity the choice whether to obey Him or not in this life, other creations and objects such as the animals, plants, mountains, oceans, and planets, are all in submission to the will of Allah.

He is thus the sole master of the heavens and the earth, and He alone sustains all His creation. Allah has no associate – no parents or children or predecessors or successors. His attributes are perfect, and He is free of animal needs; He sustains all, and needs none to support Him. He is the Supreme Being, accountable to none. He has always been, and always will be. 

📖 “Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him” — (Quran 112:1-4)

2. Belief in Angels

The angels are a creation of Allah hidden from human perception. They were created from light, long before the creation of humanity. The angels are obedient to Allah, and carry out His commands – they do not act independently of Him. One of the angels, Jibril (Gabriel), was responsible for bringing Allah’s revelations to His prophets, while other angels have other tasks to perform in His kingdom.

📖 “Say, ‘Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], by permission of Allāh, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.’ “ — (Quran 2:97)

The angels have also appeared in human form in the past at Allah’s command to communicate with His chosen servants. For example, the Qur’an states that Jibril (Gabriel) appeared in human guise to give the tiding of a son to Maryam (Mary), as a special honour from Allah.

📖 “And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, ‘Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allāh.’ He said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., Jesus].’ “ — (Quran 19:17-21)

3. Belief in Prophets

 

  • Allah sent prophets to guide humanity, from Adam to Muhammad ﷺ.
  • Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the last and final messenger.

     

A prophet is a person chosen by Allah to receive His words of guidance and then to communicate these words to his people. The prophets were sometimes granted miracles as proof of their being divinely inspired. They all prescribed a strict code of monotheism -urging people to serve the only God, and associate none with Him.

All prophets were sincere to their people, always spoke truthfully, lived with humility, led others by example, and often sought to establish or maintain a system of justice and peace. Muhammad ﷺ was the last prophet appointed by Allah – described in the Qur’an as the “seal of the prophets”. Hence, there shall be no prophet after him.

📖 “Muḥammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allāh and seal [i.e., last] of the prophets. And ever is Allāh, of all things, Knowing.” — (Quran 33:40)

Although some prophets were favoured by Allah above others, Muslims are required to respect them all and not to discriminate between any of them, as the Qur’an states:

📖 “Say: We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Ibrahim [Abraham] and Ismail [Ishmael] and Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqub [Jacob] and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed to Musa [Moses] and Isa [Jesus] and the [other] prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have surrendered.” — (Quran 3:84)

4. Belief in the Divine Books

Muslims believe God has sent guidance through sacred texts throughout human history. These include:

  • The Tawrah (Torah) – Given to Prophet Musa (Moses).
  • The Zabur (Psalms) – Given to Prophet Dawood (David).
  • The Injeel (Gospel) – Given to Prophet Isa (Jesus).
  • The Quran – The final revelation given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The elaborate guidelines granted by Allah to prophets were written down and recorded in the form of “Books” or “Scriptures”. The divine Books catered to the specific needs of their respective peoples, and thus differed in content and style. However, they all conveyed the same basic message of monotheism, and emphasized being obedient to Allah and doing good to others.

The Qur’an confirms the divine origin of the Torah, Gospel, and Psalms. It also makes mention of the Scripture granted to Ibrahim (Abraham), and declares the Qur’an to be the concluding word of God, with its message being universal. 

📖 “And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.” — (Quran 5:46)

While the previously revealed Books were tampered with or not timely recorded, thus lacking in authenticity, the Qur’an contains the exclusive word of God, without any additions to, or deletions from, its original content, over the passage of time.

📖 “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’ān], and indeed, We will be its guardian.” 
— (Quran 15:9)

5. Belief in the Hereafter

Islam emphasizes accountability – that each person will face judgment for their intentions and actions. This belief creates a moral framework where justice ultimately prevails, even if not immediately apparent in this world.

  • Every soul will be held accountable for their deeds.
  • Paradise (Jannah) is the reward for the righteous, and Hellfire (Jahannam) is for those who reject faith and do wrong.
  • Good and bad deeds are recorded, and nothing escapes Allah’s knowledge.

 

This world shall come to an end – just as it was created by Allah in the first place. All life on earth shall cease to exist and all its landmarks will be flattened by the calamities of the Last Day. Then Allah shall resurrect all those who ever lived, and people will be called to give an account of all their deeds in this life.

📖 “And certainly the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it. And Allah will surely resurrect those in the graves.” — (Quran 22:7)

📖 “And they argue with Us—forgetting they were created—saying, ‘Who will give life to decayed bones?’ Say, [O Prophet,] ‘They will be revived by the One Who produced them the first time, for He has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of every created being.’ “ — (Quran 36:78-79)

The judgement shall then be pronounced, and people will be rewarded or punished according to their actions: those who associated none with Allah and lived righteously shall be in the gardens of Paradise, while those who did otherwise will be punished by Him in the fire of Hell. This afterlife will be eternal, and people shall be dealt with in perfect justice, taking into account their specific circumstances in this life.

📖 “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
— (Quran 99:7-8)

📖 “The record of their deeds will be laid open and you will see the guilty, dismayed at what they contain, saying, ‘Woe to us! What a record this is! It does not leave any deed, small or large, unaccounted for!’ They will find everything they ever did laid in front of them: your Lord will not be unjust to anyone.”
— (Quran 18:49)

6. Belief in Divine Decree (Predestination or Qadr)

  • Everything happens by the will of Allah—both good and what we perceive as bad.
  • Humans have free will, but Allah’s knowledge encompasses all things.


This is the belief that whatever occurs is by the decree of Allah and in accordance with His will. Allah is aware of all that takes place in the universe, and nothing escapes His all-encompassing knowledge. Thus, all happenings and incidents in the life of a person are already known to Allah and comply with His will.

For this reason, one should not bemoan, or excessively grieve over, the tragedies that occur in life, because Allah had predetermined that such should occur. One should, therefore, accept the tragedies and setbacks in life that one encounters, even if they seem to have been avoidable, because they were actually predestined by Allah and were always meant to be.

📖 “No misfortune can happen, either in the earth or in yourselves, that was not set down in writing before We brought it into being- that is easy for God-so you need not grieve for what you miss or gloat over what you gain. God does not love the conceited, the boastful,” — (Quran 57:22-23)

article from Islam Explained

The Five Pillars of Islam

Islam is practiced through five essential pillars, which shape a Muslim’s faith and daily life.

1. Testimony of Faith (Shahada)​

“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger”

This simple yet profound declaration is the foundation of Islamic faith. By proclaiming the Shahada, a person enters Islam, affirming two fundamental truths:

  • The absolute oneness of God (Tawheed)
  • The prophethood of Muhammad as God’s final messenger

The Shahada isn’t just spoken once – Muslims repeat it in their daily prayers and often in remembrance of God.

📖 “Verily, prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed times.” — (Quran 4:103)

The five daily prayers structure a Muslim’s day, creating regular moments of divine connection:

  • Fajr (Pre-dawn prayer)
  • Dhuhr (Noon prayer)
  • Asr (Afternoon prayer)
  • Maghrib (After Sunset prayer)
  • Isha (Night prayer)

Each prayer includes physical movements that engage the body, mind, and soul. Before prayer, Muslims perform ablution (wudu) – a ritual washing that prepares them physically and spiritually for the prayer.

📖 “Establish prayer and give Zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves—you will find it with Allah.”  — (Quran 2:110)

Zakat is giving 2.5% of one’s savings annually to the needy. It’s more than charity – it’s a right of the poor over the wealth of the more fortunate. Zakat:

  • Purifies wealth
  • Reduces economic inequality
  • Builds community bonds
  • Cultivates generosity
  • Combats excessive materialism

📖 “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become mindful of Allah.”  — (Quran 2:183)

During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. This means:

  • Abstaining from food and drink
  • Avoiding negative speech and behavior
  • Increasing charitable acts
  • Engaging in extra worship
  • Strengthening family and community bonds

Fasting teaches self-discipline, empathy for the hungry, and gratitude for God’s blessings.

📖 “And proclaim the Hajj to mankind. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.”  — (Quran 22:27)

Once in their lifetime, Muslims who are physically and financially able must perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. This profound spiritual journey:

  • Unites Muslims of all backgrounds in simple white garments
  • Recalls the experiences of Prophet Abraham and his family
  • Includes circumambulating the Kaaba (God’s house)
  • Creates a powerful sense of global Muslim unity
  • Represents a spiritual high point in a Muslim’s life

The Interconnection of the Pillars

These pillars work together to develop a complete Muslim personality:

Pillar I

Shahada establishes the foundation of faith

Pillar II

Prayer nourishes the soul and maintains spiritual connection

Pillar III

Zakat develops social responsibility and reduces economic inequality

Pillar IV

Fasting builds self-control and gratitude

Pillar IV

Hajj creates global unity

Together, they provide a comprehensive framework for spiritual growth and practical living, balancing individual devotion with communal responsibility.

Islam as a source of guidance

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who are mindful of Allah.”

— (Quran 2:2)