The word Muslim originates from the Arabic root S-L-M (س-ل-م), which conveys meanings related to peace, submission, surrender, and safety.

 

The term Muslim (مُسْلِم) is a participle form derived from the verb أسْلَمَ (aslama), meaning "to submit" or "to surrender" to the will of God.

 

Linguistic Breakdown:

1. Root: S-L-M (سلم)

   • Salam (سلام) means peace or safety.

   • Islam (إسلام) means submission, surrender, or devotion, specifically to God.

   • Aslama (أسْلَمَ) means to willingly submit or surrender oneself to God.

2. Form of the Word: Muslim (مُسْلِم)

   • Muslim is the active participle of the verb aslama.

   • It follows a specific grammatical pattern "mu-" + verb root in its active form, which is common for denoting the doer of an action.

 

Thus, a Muslim is "one who submits" or "one who surrenders" to the will of God.

 

Spiritual and Theological Meaning:

In Islamic theology, a Muslim is defined as a person who submits to the teachings of God as revealed in the Qur'an, follows the principles of monotheism (Tawhid), and seeks peace with God, oneself, and creation by adhering to divine guidance.

 

According to the Qur'an:

“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
(Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:19)

 

Further, it emphasizes that submission (Islam) is not limited to a particular time or nation:

“Whoever submits himself to Allah and does good will have his reward with his Lord.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:112)

 

The term underscores a voluntary and conscious act of devotion rather than mere cultural affiliation.

 

Broader Abrahamic Context:

The Qur'an teaches that many prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, were Muslims in the sense that they submitted to God’s will.

This highlights Islam's belief in a continuous, timeless tradition of monotheism.