Islam is a monotheistic religion centred on belief in one God, called Allah in Arabic, and on living in willing submission to His guidance as revealed in the Quran and taught by the Prophet Muhammad. The word Islam itself means "submission" or "surrender" to God, and a person who follows Islam is called a Muslim. Today nearly two billion people, roughly a quarter of humanity, practise Islam.
Whether you are curious about your Muslim neighbours or you are a Muslim wanting to explain your faith more clearly, this guide covers what Islam means, what Muslims believe and how those beliefs shape daily life.
Key takeaways
- Islam means "submission to God," and a Muslim is "one who submits"; both words come from the Arabic root s-l-m, which is also linked to salam, meaning peace.
- Muslims believe in one God (Allah), who has no partners, no children and no equal, and who alone deserves worship.
- The basic beliefs of Islam are the six articles of faith: God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree.
- The main practices are the five pillars: the declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting in Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Makkah.
- Muslims see Islam as the same message taught by earlier prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus, completed through the Prophet Muhammad.
What does the word Islam mean?
In Arabic, Islam comes from a three-letter root, s-l-m, which carries ideas of surrender, safety and peace. The word Islam describes the act of submitting oneself to God, and Muslim is the person who does so. In this sense, Muslims understand Islam as a way of life rather than only a set of rituals.
"Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God. It is not the name of a separate deity, and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use it when they pray. The Quran describes this way of submission as the religion God accepts:
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.
The difference between the words "Islam," "Muslim" and "Islamic" often confuses newcomers, so we cover it in its own guide, Muslim vs Islam.
What is Islam about in simple words?
In simple words, Islam is about knowing God, worshipping Him alone and treating His creation well. The Quran teaches that human beings were created with a purpose, and that purpose is to worship God, which in Islam includes prayer but also honesty, kindness, fairness and good character.
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
The heart of the religion is tawhid, the oneness of God. A short chapter of the Quran, Surah al-Ikhlas, sums it up in four lines. Muslims recite it often, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said it is equal to a third of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Islam also teaches that faith and good deeds belong together. Belief is meant to show up in how a person prays, earns money, speaks to family and treats strangers.
What are the basic beliefs of Islam? The six articles of faith
The main beliefs of Islam are known as the six articles of faith (arkan al-iman). They are listed in a famous hadith in Sahih Muslim, narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab, in which the angel Jibril (Gabriel) came in human form and asked the Prophet about Islam, faith and excellence. When asked about faith, the Prophet said it is to believe in:
- Allah – the one God, Creator of everything, who has no partner, child or equal.
- His angels – beings created from light who carry out God's commands, including Jibril, who brought revelation to the prophets.
- His books – the scriptures God revealed, including the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Gospel to Jesus and the Quran to Muhammad.
- His messengers – the prophets sent to every nation, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and finally Muhammad.
- The Last Day – the Day of Judgement, when every person will be raised and held accountable, followed by eternal life.
- Divine decree (qadar) – the belief that nothing happens outside God's knowledge and will, both the good and what seems bad.
The Quran mentions most of these together in several places. One example:
O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.
Belief in divine decree is drawn from verses such as "Indeed, all things We created with predestination" (Quran 54:49) and from the hadith of Jibril. Scholars explain that this belief does not cancel human choice; people remain responsible for what they do.
What are the main practices of Islam? The five pillars
If the six articles of faith describe what Muslims believe, the five pillars describe what they do. The Prophet said, "Islam is built upon five," in a hadith recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
- Shahada – declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.
- Salah – praying five times a day.
- Zakat – giving a set portion of one's wealth to those in need.
- Sawm – fasting from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj – making the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime, for those able to do so.
Each pillar has its roots in the Quran and is explained in detail in the Prophet's teaching. You can read more in our guide to the five pillars of Islam.
The Quran also stresses that real righteousness joins belief with action. This verse brings faith, generosity, prayer and character together:
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
Where did Islam come from?
Muslims believe Islam did not begin with Muhammad but is the original message of every prophet: worship one God and live righteously. In the Muslim view, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final prophet in a long line that includes Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Historically, the Quran began to be revealed to Muhammad in 610 CE, when the angel Jibril came to him in the Cave of Hira near Makkah with the first words of Surah al-Alaq. Revelation continued for about 23 years until his death in 632 CE. The Quran calls him "the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets" (Quran 33:40).
Say, "We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him."
This is why Muslims honour Jesus and Moses as great prophets. Our article on the prophets in the Quran lists all 25 who are named.
How does Islam view people of other faiths?
The Quran teaches that faith cannot be forced. A sincere belief must be freely chosen, so pressure has no place in it:
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
The Quran also says human diversity is intentional, so that people "may know one another," and that the noblest person before God is the most righteous, not the richest or the most powerful (Quran 49:13). Jews and Christians are given a special title, "People of the Scripture," because they received earlier revelation.
Read the Quran on Quran Universe
The best way to understand what Islam is about is to read the Quran itself. On Quran Universe every verse quoted here has the Arabic text, the Sahih International translation, word-by-word meanings, a simple verse card with context and a practical takeaway, and the classical Tafsir Ibn Kathir. A good place to start is Surah al-Fatihah, the opening chapter Muslims recite in every prayer.
Frequently asked questions
What is Islam in simple words?
Islam is a religion based on belief in one God, Allah, and on submitting to His guidance. Muslims follow the Quran, which they believe is God's word, and the example of the Prophet Muhammad. In daily life, Islam means praying, being honest and generous, and treating others with justice and kindness.
What are the basic beliefs of Islam?
The basic beliefs of Islam are the six articles of faith. Muslims believe in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. These six are listed in the well-known hadith of Jibril recorded in Sahih Muslim.
What does the word Islam mean?
The word Islam means "submission" or "surrender" to God. It comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, which is also linked to the word salam, meaning peace. A Muslim is a person who submits to God.
Do Muslims worship a different God from Christians and Jews?
Muslims believe they worship the same God worshipped by Abraham, Moses and Jesus. "Allah" is the Arabic word for God, and Arab Christians use it in their Bibles and prayers. Islam does differ from Christianity in its beliefs about God, especially in rejecting the idea that God has a son or is a Trinity.
Who founded Islam?
Muslims do not see Muhammad as the founder of a new religion but as the last prophet of an ancient message. From the Islamic view, every true prophet taught submission to one God. Historically, Islam as a community took shape after the Quran began to be revealed to Muhammad in Makkah in 610 CE.
How many Muslims are there in the world?
There are nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, making Islam the second largest religion after Christianity. Most Muslims are not Arab; the country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia, and large communities live across South Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.