What is the meaning of the word Islam? What are the different categories of religion that exist in the world?

Praise be to Allaah.  

 

If you refer to Arabic language dictionaries you will find out that the meaning of the word Islam is: submission, humbling oneself, and obeying commands and heeding prohibitions without objection, sincerely worshipping Allaah alone, believing what He tells us and having faith in Him. The word Islam has become the name of the religion which was brought by Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

 

Why is this religion called Islam? For all the religions on earth are called by various names, either the name of a specific man or a specific nation. So Christianity takes its name from Christ; Buddhism takes its name from its founder, the Buddha; the Zoroastrians became well known by this name because their founder and standard-bearer was Zoroaster. Similarly, Judaism took its name from a tribe known as Yehudah (Judah), so it became known as Judaism. And so on. Except for Islam, for it is not attributed to any specific man or to any specific nation, rather its name refers to the meaning of the word Islam. What this name indicates is that the establishment and founding of this religion was not the work of one particular man and that it is not only for one particular nation to the exclusion of all others. Rather its aim is give the attribute implied by the word Islam to all the peoples of the earth. So everyone who acquires this attribute, whether he is from the past or the present, is a Muslim, and everyone who acquires this attribute in the future will also be a Muslim. 

 

From Kitaab al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi’uhu by Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih al-Suhaym.

 

People are divided according to their religions into two categories: 

 

1 – Those who have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, such as the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Revealed books before prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were distorted and human wrote different versions claiming that it came from Allaah, but they are not from Allaah, rather they are the work of forgers and the distortion of fanatics. 

 

With regard to the Book of the Muslims (the Holy Qur’aan), it is the last of the Divine Books to be revealed, and the most reliable, and Allaah has guaranteed to preserve it – He did not leave that to human beings. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

 

“Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)” [al-Hijr 15:9] 

 

It is preserved in men’s hearts and on paper, because it is the final Book in which is Allaah’s guidance for mankind, and He has established it as proof against them until the Hour begins. He has decreed that it will abide and He has created for it in every age people who will follow its guidance, learn it by heart, implement its laws and believe in it.  

 

2 – Those who do not have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, although they may have an inherited book that is attributed to the founder of their religion, such as the Hindus, Magians (Zoroastrians), Buddhists, Confucians and the Arabs before the coming of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

 

There is no nation that does not have knowledge or act according to what is in their best worldly interests. This is part of the general guidance that Allaah has given to all people, and indeed to all animals, as He guides animals to eat food and drink that are good for them, and to avoid those that are harmful. Allaah has created in them love for the former and hatred towards the latter. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

 

“Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,

 

Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it.

 

And Who has measured (preordainments for everything even to be blessed or wretched); and then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as well as the wrong paths, and guided the animals to pasture).” [al-‘Alaa 87:1-3] 

 

And Moosa (peace be upon him) said to Pharaoh: 

 

“Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright” [Ta-Ha 20:50 – interpretation of the meaning] 

 

And Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) said:  

 

“Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me” [al-Shu’ara’ 26:87 – interpretation of the meaning] 

 

See al-Jawaab al-Saheeh fiman badala Deen al-Maseeh, vol. 4, p. 97. 

 

Every intelligent person – who has the slightest insight – knows that the followers of different religions have more beneficial knowledge and do more righteous deeds than those who are not followers of any religion, so there is nothing good to be found with the non-Muslim followers of other religions, and what the Muslims have is more perfect. The followers of different religions have something that others do not have. Knowledge and actions are of two types: 

 

The first type is knowledge that is acquired through mental reasoning, such as mathematics, medicine and manufacturing. These things are the same for followers of religion and for others, indeed they are more well versed in them. But with regard to matters which cannot be known merely through mental reasoning, such as divine knowledge and knowledge of religions, this is something that belongs only to the followers of religion. This includes matters for which rational evidence can be produced, and the Messengers guided mankind and pointed out to them the rational basis of this knowledge, thus it is rational and shar’i at the same time. 

 

The second type is that which can only be known from the words of the Messengers. There is no way to acquire this knowledge through mental reasoning. This includes information about Allaah, His names and attributes, the reward in the Hereafter for those who obey Him, the punishment for those who disobey Him, His laws, and news of the earlier Prophets and their dealings with their nations. See Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, vol. 4, p. 210-211. 

 

From al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi’uhu by Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih al-Husaym.

 

And Allaah knows best.

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