Islam
/ˈɪzlɑːm/noun
The monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad in the 7th century CE.
Did you know?Islam comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, the same ancient family behind salām (“peace”) and Muslim (“one who submits”), showing how submission and peace are linguistically intertwined.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PSem
*š-l-m
“A root conveying wholeness, safety, peace, and completion”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
islām
“Submission, surrender, yielding oneself to God”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
salām
“Peace, safety, well-being”
7th Century
Arabic
al-Islām
“The religion of submission to God preached by Muhammad”
Middle English
English
Mahometisme / Islam
“Early English references to the religion of Muslims”
Modern English
English
Islam
“The religion of Muslims, centered on submission to God”