Islamic knowledge
What is Islam? A Beginner's Guide to the Deen
Islam is the religion of submission to the one God — the same God worshipped by the prophets from Adam to Abraham to Moses to Jesus. Everything else builds outward from that.
By Zaman Ishtiyaq · August 2026
Definition
Islam (Arabic: إسلام) is the religion of submission to the one God, Allah. The word comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, which carries the meanings of submission and peace. At its core is the shahada: La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadun rasul Allah — "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger."
This guide is written for people with no background in Islam, whether you are genuinely curious, studying world religions, or considering the faith. It covers the basics plainly and honestly.
The meaning of the word Islam
The Arabic word Islam is the verbal noun of aslama, meaning "to submit" or "to surrender." Its root letters are the same letters that form salam, peace, and salaam, the greeting Muslims exchange.
The scholars explain the connection precisely. Submission to Allah is the path to peace. The person who surrenders their will to the One who knows what is best for them finds a peace that the person who insists on running their own life never quite reaches.
It is also worth knowing what Islam is not. It is not a new religion in the sense of a new message. The Quran presents Islam as the continuation and completion of the message brought by every prophet:
"Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam."
What Muslims believe: the six pillars of faith
The central beliefs of Islam are summarised in six articles of faith.
Belief in Allah
The first and foundational pillar. Allah is the one God, the Creator and Sustainer of everything, without partners, without equals. He is described by ninety-nine names in the tradition — the Merciful, the Compassionate, the All-Knowing, the Just.
Belief in the angels
Angels are created beings, without free will, who carry out Allah's commands. They recorded the Quran, they write down the deeds of every person, and they carry the souls of the dying. Muslims do not worship them; they worship the One who created them.
Belief in the revealed books
The Torah given to Moses, the Psalms given to David, the Gospel given to Jesus, and the Quran given to Muhammad ﷺ. The Quran is held to be the final scripture, preserved from corruption and containing the complete message.
Belief in the messengers
Allah sent messengers to every people — the Quran names twenty-five of them, from Adam to Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims believe in all of them and honour them all. Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger.
Belief in the Last Day
The Day of Judgment, when every soul is resurrected and held accountable for its deeds. This belief is the engine of Islamic ethics: it gives every action, however hidden, an ultimate witness. It is also the reason for muhasaba, the daily self-accounting.
Belief in divine decree
That whatever happens occurs by the will of Allah, who knows all things. This belief is not fatalism — Islam holds human beings responsible for their choices — but it gives the believer a settled peace about outcomes beyond their control. The practice of tawakkul is built on this pillar.
What Muslims practise: the five pillars of Islam
If the six pillars of faith are what Muslims believe, the five pillars are what Muslims do.
The Shahada — the declaration of faith
"La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadun rasul Allah." There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger. This single sentence, said with sincere conviction, is what makes a person a Muslim.
Salah — the five daily prayers
Prayer at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. A fixed daily rhythm that anchors the Muslim's day and structures it around remembrance. The discipline of khushoo, presence in prayer, is a lifelong practice.
Zakat — the obligatory charity
A fixed portion of one's wealth, 2.5% of savings annually, given to the poor and the needy. It is not voluntary charity (that is sadaqah); it is a right that the poor have over the wealth of the wealthy. See Zakat: Meaning, Nisab, and the Eight Recipients.
Sawm — fasting in Ramadan
Fasting from dawn to sunset through the month of Ramadan: no food, no drink, no intimacy. The fast trains the nafs toward self-discipline and empathy with the hungry. See Fasting in Islam.
Hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca
The pilgrimage to the Kaaba, once in a lifetime for those who are able. It gathers millions of Muslims from every nation in a single ritual that symbolises the equality of all believers before Allah. See Hajj Meaning.
What Islam says about God
Islam's view of God is defined by absolute oneness. Surah Al-Ikhlas, the surah Muslims recite daily, states it in four lines:
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
The mercy of Allah is not diminished by this oneness. It is magnified. Two of His names frame nearly every chapter of the Quran: Al-Rahman, the Most Merciful, and Al-Rahim, the Especially Merciful.
What Islam says about human beings
Every person is born in a natural state of purity (fitrah), with an innate awareness of God. Human beings are not born in sin; each person is responsible only for their own deeds. But the self has a pull toward the wrong — the Quran calls it the nafs al-ammara, "the commanding self" that urges evil. The spiritual life of a Muslim is the lifelong work of training that self toward its best state. The science of tazkiyah, the purification of the soul, is where the practice of daily self-reflection becomes central.
What Islam says about life's purpose
"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."
The Arabic word translated "worship" comes from the root meaning servant. The verse describes the orientation of a whole life: living as a servant of Allah in everything, from prayer to work to family to how you speak in a meeting. This is why Muslims begin tasks with bismillah — "in the name of Allah."
Common questions about Islam
Is Islam the same as the religions of Abraham?
Yes, in the Islamic understanding. Islam sees itself as the completion of the Abrahamic tradition. Muslims believe in the prophets of Judaism and Christianity, honour Jesus as a great messenger and the Messiah, and believe the Quran confirms and completes the core of what came before. The differences centre on the nature of God (absolute oneness vs. the Trinity) and the status of Jesus (a revered prophet and Messiah, not divine).
What does "Muslim" mean?
A Muslim is a person who submits to Allah — the active participle of the same root as Islam. "Muslim" is not an ethnic or cultural label; it describes a relationship with God. There are Muslims of every race and nationality.
What is the Quran?
The Quran is the scripture of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over twenty-three years. It has 114 chapters and approximately 6,000 verses. It has been memorised in full by millions of Muslims across the centuries.
Do Muslims believe in Jesus?
Yes. Jesus (Isa, peace be upon him) is one of the most honoured prophets in Islam. Muslims believe in his virgin birth, his miracles, and his second coming. What Muslims do not accept is his divinity. Islam holds that he was a human prophet, not God, and that he was raised to heaven rather than crucified.
Is Islam a peaceful religion?
The word Islam itself derives from the root meaning peace and submission. The vast majority of Islamic teachings are about mercy, justice, patience, charity, and restraint. Islam permits self-defence but prohibits aggression: "And fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. Indeed, Allah does not love transgressors." (2:190). The Prophet said, "The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from above." (Tirmidhi 1924)
Why this matters for a daily spiritual practice
Understanding the basics of Islam makes sense of everything Muslims do, including the quiet practices this site is about. The belief in the Last Day produces the nightly self-accounting of muhasaba. The belief in divine decree produces the serenity of tawakkul. The five daily prayers structure the day; the nightly reflection closes it.
If you are exploring Islam, the honest place to begin is the shahada — understanding what it means to say there is no god but Allah. From there, the five pillars give the practice, and the six pillars give the belief. The rest is a lifetime of deepening both.
Begin the practice
For a gentle entry into the daily rhythm — free on iOS.
The Muhasaba app offers a written or spoken reflection that closes your day with an ayah and a dhikr.
Download on the App StoreNew to muhasaba? Learn what muhasaba al-nafs means →