Meaning of Islam (what is it, concept and definition)

What is the Islam:

Islam is a revealed monotheistic religion that informs and configures a cultural and civilizing system. It is derived from the Arabic root slm which means peace, purity, submission, salvation and obedience to God.

Believers of Islam are called Muslims, whose word is also derived from the Arabic root slm .

Islam is monotheistic because it affirms full faith in a single, omniscient and almighty god called Allah or Allah . Knowledge and belief in Allah constitute the genuine foundation of Islam.

Islam affirms that in the creation of Allah there is a sense that life follows a sublime end beyond the physical needs and material activities of man.

Origin of Islam

The prophet Muhammad, also known as Muhammad, was born between 570 and 580 in Mecca or Makkah . Beginning in 610, Muhammad begins to preach the revelations of his only and true god, Allah.

Muhammad fled from Mecca to La Medina ( Yatrib ) in 622, beginning the Muslim calendar. In La Medina he consolidated as a warrior chief and returned victorious in 630 to Mecca, gradually imposing his authority and religion.

Muhammad dies 2 years later leaving a nation united by faith and a politically united Arabia.

The successors of Muhammad, the caliphs or political leaders and supreme religious authority, conquered in less than 100 years an empire that extended from Spain, passing through North Africa, to Asia Minor.

Islam and women

The Koran, holy book with the revelations of Allah, treats both men and women equally.

The Quran talks about the virtue and intelligence of women in various fields. An example, not exclusive, is the description he makes about the women of the prophet showing their different facets and importance:

• Khadijah: the business woman Aisha: the scholar and military leader Umm Salama: the model of calm and reasoned intelligence Fatima the daughter who is content to take care of the house

Islam and the Koran

The Koran is a divine guide to rule the lives of its so-called Muslim believers. Muslims consider the Koran as the word of Allah revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the Archangel Gabriel or Yibrail, therefore it is sacred.

The Quran is divided into 114 suras or chapters, each with its ayat or verses. The suras are ordered in decreasing order according to the length of the text.

The main source of Islamic law is the Koran. Koranic law or fiqh is a revealed right and regulates the life of the Muslim in his triple quality of believer, man and citizen.

Islam, Christianity and Judaism

Islam, Christianity and Judaism represent the 3 current monotheistic religions that believe in the existence of one God.

Islam says that Muhammad received from Allah the culmination of the revelations that had previously been given to the Hebrews and Christians of old.

According to Islam, the revelation came to Muhammad because both the Hebrews and the Christians violated the covenant with God.

The Hebrews would have violated the covenant with God by slandering Mary and Jesus, and the Christians would also have violated this covenant by elevating Jesus to equality with God through the concept of trinity.

For this reason Islam conceives of itself as the last call to salvation for all humanity.

You may also be interested in the meaning of Islamism.