The Meaning of Islam
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The noun إسلام "Islam" is the masdar (literally "source", but in Arabic grammar "verbal noun") of the verb أسلم "aslama" meaning "to give up, to submit, to surrender, to give into, or to hand over." "Islam" in its literal sense thus means "submission", "surrender" or "giving up" though of course it is also the name of the religion to which this Wiki is devoted. "Aslama" is the verbal form IV, in Arabic grammar وزن أفعل "wazn afa'ala", from the root s-l-m س-ل-م. The root س-ل-م s-l-m is also the root of the word سلام "salaam" meaning "peace." As with all Arabic words and roots, it should be remembered that the root doesn't have a particular meaning but rather a swarm of semantic relations often produced by history and analogy, and thus words derived from the same root came have very different meanings despite a common linguistic heritage.
Etymology
The word Islam derives from the Arabic triconsonantal root sīn-lām-mīm (SLM [ س ل م ]). As with other Semetic roots in language such as Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic, many different words are created from this root word by inserting different vowels or constants between and in front of the three root consonants. As mentioned above, these semetic roots do not have meanings per se but rather clouds of semantic relationships often connected only by history and analogy but not actual meaning. For instance, all of these words are derived from the root S-L-M:
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A common translation proposed for Islam in English and other languages is "peace." The root of this idea is that' 'Islam, meaning 'submission', shares a root word with Salaam, meaning 'peace', however the existence of these two words with the same root in no way necessarily implies a semantic relationship between the two. By way of example with the same root, there is no a relationship between the meanings of the derivations of the verb سلم Salama, meaning to be safe and sound, and سلّم sullam, meaning a ladder. There may be an analogy from which one was formed from another or an opaque historical connection that links these two words, but there is not obvious semantic connection. |
The Compendium of Muslim Texts, compiled by the USC-MSA, the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California,[1] confirms this understanding:
Islam is `the religion of peace' because:
- • the Arabic word Islam is derived from the Arabic word "Al-Salaam" which means peace.
It might seem strange to think of this as a misconception, but in fact it is. The root word of Islam is "al-silm" which means "submission" or "surrender." It is understood to mean "submission to Allah." In spite of whatever noble intention has caused many a Muslim to claim that Islam is derived primarily from peace, this is not true. Allah says in the Qur'an (translated):
- [2:136] Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have surrendered. [Arabic "Muslimoon"]
Scripture
Qur'an
Islam is a Deen (Religion)
Islam is Submission to Allah
Islam is the Religion of Allah
Hadith
Scholars
Ibn Taymiyyah
The difference arises from the fact that Islam is a Din Submission. Din is the iffinitve of ddna, yadinu, which means to submit or to surrender.
The religion of Islam which god has ordained and promulgated through his prophets is to submit to him alone. It is nothing but submission, worship and service to God and him alone.[3]Ramadan Buti
External Links
- Islam & Peace - Answering Islam
- Ten Obvious Reasons Why Islam is NOT a Religion of Peace - The Religion Of Peace
References
- ↑ Religious Texts - Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, accessed September 29, 2011
- ↑ Ten Misconceptions About Islam - USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts, Internet Archive Wayback Machine capture dated February 6, 2006
- ↑ Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari, 'Ibn Taymiyah Expounds Islam', pg. 316, Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America, Washington, U.S.A., 2000.
- ↑ Dr. M. Sa’id Ramadan Al-Buti - "Jurisprudence of Muhammad’s Biography", Pg. 135, seventh Arabic edition, published by Azhar University of Egypt
- ↑ Dr. M. Sa’id Ramadan Al-Buti - "Jurisprudence of Muhammad’s Biography", Pg. 73, English edition, published by Azhar University of Egypt (1988)
- ↑ Dr. M. Sa’id Ramadan Al-Buti - "Jurisprudence of Muhammad’s Biography", Pg. 134, seventh Arabic edition, published by Azhar University of Egypt
- ↑ Dr. M. Sa’id Ramadan Al-Buti - "Jurisprudence of Muhammad’s Biography", Pg. 242, seventh Arabic edition, published by Azhar University of Egypt