What Are the Four Concepts of "Islam"?

Many people use the word "Islam." In fact, this word has several concepts and not just one single concept as many imagine. Most people think that Islam means only the Islamic religion revealed to the Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) about fifteen hundred years ago. If that were the case, the Qur'an would not have mentioned that Abraham, Moses, and other prophets were "Muslims" when they did not know a single word of the Arabic language, nor did they know the Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, nor did they know a single verse of the Holy Qur'an.

Let us now see together how this word has more meanings than some, even many, might know.

First Concept: "Islam" as the Islamic Religion

The first concept of the word Islam is the "Islamic religion," which follows the Qur'an and is known for its five pillars such as the Shahada, prayer, Zakat, fasting during Ramadan, and Hajj for those who can afford it. This concept is based on a hadith that speaks of the pillars of Islam. What is beautiful here is that the pillars of something are not the thing itself.

Second Concept: "Islam" in the Linguistic Sense

The second concept of the word Islam is the "linguistic concept." The word Islam can mean "submission" to God, as in, "Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons: 'What will you worship after me?' They said: 'We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, one God, and to Him we submit.'"

It can also mean making peace on earth, as stated in the dictionary: Among the derivatives of the word "peace" in the language are "pacific," "peace," and "Islam" (the latter means activating peace, like sulh which means making peace and Islam which delivers peace). We remember here what Pharaoh said at the time of his drowning: "I am of the Muslims." This certainly did not mean that he believed in Muhammad, followed the Qur'an, or applied the pillars of the Islamic religion as some understand it. The most probable meaning here is that the word "Islam" in many verses speaks of "activating peace" and not the Islam of the aforementioned pillars. The same applies to Abraham, peace be upon him, in his words: "Our Lord, make us Muslims for You and from our descendants a Muslim nation for You, and show us our rituals and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful." And Moses in his words: "And Moses said: 'O my people, if you believe in God, then place your trust in Him, if you are Muslims.'" And finally, the words of Pharaoh's magicians: "And you do not retaliate against us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims."

Islam, in its linguistic sense, "activating peace," is clearly evident in God's response to Pharaoh when he said: "And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until when drowning overtook him, he said: 'I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.'" Here is the divine response to him: "Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters." That is, Islam in this context is the opposite of corruption on earth and the opposite of aggression against others and their weakness, as Pharaoh did with the Children of Israel, and this meaning is consistent with the linguistic and Qur'anic concept that true Islam is "activating peace on earth" and not merely or only performing the five pillars, as many think. This concept was summarized in the noble hadith: "A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand people are safe."

Third Concept: Pre-Islamic Islam

The third concept of the word Islam is the pre-Islamic concept that conflicts with Islam.

Fourth Concept: "Radical" or Extremist Islam

The fourth Islam in this context is "radical" or extremist Islam, which is the type of literal Islam that does not look at the rest of the verses, thus omitting everything it wants to serve its goals. The same concept annuls the work of the verses of peace under the pretext that they are abrogated, making religion an image of war, violence, and bloodshed.

Therefore, we must pause for a moment to consider how the word "Islam" expresses several concepts and not just one concept as some think!