7. Concept of Islam

Literal and Technical Meaning

Literal meaning: Islam comes from the Arabic roots silm/salm (peace) and istislam (submission) — to submit one's will entirely to Allah and thereby attain peace, within and without.

Technical (Shar'i) meaning: complete, willing submission to the commands of Allah as revealed in the Qur'an and exemplified in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Qur'anic Evidence

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إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ

اردو: بےشک اللہ کے نزدیک دین اسلام ہی ہے۔

English: "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam."

— Surah Āl-'Imran 3:19

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

اردو: آج میں نے تمہارے لیے تمہارا دین مکمل کر دیا، اپنی نعمت تم پر پوری کر دی اور تمہارے لیے اسلام کو بطور دین پسند کر لیا۔

English: "This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favour upon you, and chosen for you Islam as your religion."

— Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3

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Hadith Evidence — The Hadith of Jibril

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The angel Jibril, in human form, asked the Prophet (PBUH) in turn about Islam, Iman and Ehsan; the Prophet defined Islam as testifying to Tawhid and Prophethood, establishing Salah, paying Zakah, fasting Ramadan, and performing Hajj if able.

اردو: جبرائیل علیہ السلام انسانی صورت میں آئے اور نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے باری باری اسلام، ایمان اور احسان کے بارے میں سوال کیا۔ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اسلام کی تعریف توحید، رسالت، نماز، زکاۃ، روزہ اور حج کے اقرار سے کی۔

— Sahih Muslim 8, Kitab al-Iman

"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers." (cf. Surah Āl-'Imran 3:85)

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Three Dimensions of Din: Iman, Islam, Ehsan

Belief (inner conviction) + Practice (the five pillars) + Spiritual excellence (worshipping Allah as though you see Him) — the complete framework defined in the Hadith of Jibril.

Comprehensiveness and Universality

Continuity of Din: Islam is the same Din (complete code of life) conveyed by every Prophet from Adam to Muhammad (PBUH); Tawhid is the single unifying message of all Messengers (21:25).
Universality: sent for all mankind and for all time, not for one tribe or era (34:28, 7:158).
Comprehensiveness: covers 'Aqidah (belief), 'Ibadah (worship), Akhlaq (morals) and Mu'amalat (social/economic/political dealings) — a complete code of life, not a private ritual religion.
Summed up in the Shahadah: "La ilaha illallah, Muhammad-ur-Rasulullah" — negation of all false objects of worship and affirmation of Allah's exclusive sovereignty.

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