VI. THE RELIGION’S NAME

Another evidence that Islam is the true religion can be identified by the
meaning of the word “Islam” itself. Basically, the word ' Islam ' is an
Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience. As a religion, Islam
has two meanings; general and specific. Islam in general, refers to the
religion which God revealed to all prophets: The worship of God alone
(Monotheism) and the avoidance of Paganism. This explains why in the
Qur'an all prophets call themselves Muslims.10 However, the word Islam
also specifically refers to the religion that was revealed to Prophet
Muhammad (mercy and peace of God be upon him). None of the ‘previous
religions’ were given specifically their name by God, except for this last
religion - Islam.
Islam was not named after a person or a group of people, nor was it
decided upon by later generations of humans. Indeed, the name Islam was
given by God Himself as is clearly mentioned in the Qur’an in many verses
(e.g. “Indeed, the only religion accepted by Allah is Islam.”[3:19]). On
the other hand, Christianity was named after Jesus Christ (by its followers),
and Judaism after the tribe of Judah. However, it is not mentioned anywhere
in the Bible that the religion of the followers of Prophets Isaac and Moses
and their descendants is called Judaism, or that the religion of the followers
of Christ11 is called Christianity. In other words, the names ‘Judaism’ and
10 Consequently, one should not regard Islam as an innovation that was brought by the
Prophet Muhammad (mercy and peace of God be upon him), but as the original
message of God (in its fundamentals) to all prophets throughout history.
11 Both the names ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ’ are derived from Hebrew words, through Greek and
Latin. Jesus is the English equivalent and Latin form of the Greek ‘Iesous’, which in
‘Christianity’ had no divine origin or approval. It was not until long after
Jesus' departure that the name Christianity was given to the religion of those
claiming to be his followers. The same applies for Buddhism, which was
named after Gautama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, Marxism
after Karl Marx, and Hinduism after the Hindus and so on.

                                  SOURCE: DR. BILAL PHILIP

                          BOOK: IS ISLAM YOUR BIRTHRIGHT