what is islam and who is muslim

What is Islam: Islam is not simply the name of a religion, the followers of which are called Muslims. The word ‘Islam’ is an arabic word which in relation to religion means submission. In simple words Islam means submission to God and to follow the instructions conveyed by the Prophet of one’s time e.g. Islam at the time of Abraham (peace be upon him) was to obey the orders of God and to follow the instructions of the Prophet Abraham (p.b.u.h). Islam at the time of Moses (peace be upon him) was to obey the orders of God and to follow the instructions of the Prophet Moses (p.b.u.h). Islam at the time of Jesus (peace be upon him) was to obey the orders of God and to follow the instructions of the Prophet Jesus (p.b.u.h). In the same manner, Islam after the arrival of the last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is to obey the orders of God and to follow the instructions of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Therefore information in this website is related to the era after the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h).

God is an English word which in Arabic is known as ‘Allah’ and may be known by some other words in other languages, but the Entity is the same. Some of the biggest misconceptions that people have is to do with the word ‘Allah’. For various reasons, many people have come to believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. This is not correct , since “Allah is simply the Arabic word for God“.  For those who believe that the concept of God is a myth can refer to the article “Is there a God?

Who is a Muslim: Muslim is not a name of a particular group but an Arabic word for one who submits to the concept of Islam (as mentioned above), also known as ‘Believers’ e.g. In the era of Prophet Moses (p.b.u.h), people who followed him, believed in all the Prophets and Revelations before him and obeyed the orders of God were Muslims. In the era of Prophet Jesus (p.b.u.h), people who followed him, believed in all the Prophets and Revelations before him and obeyed the orders of God were Muslims. In the same manner, after the arrival of the last Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), people who follow him, believe in all the Prophets and Revelations before him and obey the orders of God are known as Muslims.

Who is a Non-Muslim: Those who do not submit to the concept of Islam are known as Non-Muslims or Disbelievers e.g. The followers of Moses (p.b.u.h) were Muslims when they followed him and obeyed the orders of God, but when some of them denied the prophet-hood of Jesus (p.b.u.h) who came after Moses (p.b.u.h) and whatever was revealed upon him, they fell in the category of non-muslims, as they breached the concept of Islam. Those who accepted Jesus (p.b.u.h) and what was revealed upon him, remained Muslims. Similarly the followers of Jesus (p.b.u.h) were Muslims when they followed him and obeyed the orders of God, but when some of them denied the prophet-hood of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) who came after Jesus (p.b.u.h) and the revelation which he brought, they fell in the category of non-muslims, as they breached the concept of Islam. Those who accepted Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and the revelation which he brouhgt, remained Muslims. In the same manner the followers of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) are Muslims since they follow him and obey the orders of God, but if they deny the prophet-hood of any Prophet before Muhammad (p.b.u.h) whether it is of Jesus (p.b.u.h), Moses (p.b.u.h) or any other, or deny any of the previous Revelations, or give the status of Prophet to anyone after the last Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) then they will fall in the category of non-muslims due to breaching the concept of Islam.

Note: Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) was the last Prophet in the religion of Islam because he declared that he is the last Prophet and that there will be no prophet after him. On the other hand Jesus (p.b.u.h) was not the last Prophet because he did not declare that he is the last one and neither warned that there will be no prophet after him. Infact he told his followers that there will be a Prophet after him whose name will be Ahmad, which is the second name of Muhammad (p.b.u.h).