Islam means Peace?

[AkramUKConv]

I know Islam doesn't translate as Peace, but Submission. This isn't my query. My query is, what is the root word of Islam?

I read everywhere that the word Islam derives from the same root as the Arabic word "Salam", which means "Peace".

However, I now read that in reality, the root word for Islam is “al-Silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender.”

Which is the root word, Salam (Peace) or Silm (Submission)?

[Abuz Zubair]

The root word for Islam is S-L-M, which means peace and security.

One of the forms of S-L-M is Islam, which means to submit/surrender, and this is what Islam means.

[WM]

Well, it don't think it can be 'salam', since that is four letters long (seen-lam-alef-meem). Arabic root-words are made up of three letters, e.g. silm (seen-lam-meem).

Or am I wrong?

[Abuz Zubair]

The Alif in Salam is a weak letter.

[WM]

No wonder I call myself an illiterate wahhabi :(

[AkramUKConv]

The root word for Islam is S-L-M, which means peace and security.

One of the forms of S-L-M is Islam, which means to submit/surrender, and this is what Islam means.

Thank you Abuz,

Please can you tell me what S-L-M is? Also, explain to me in idiots terms what is seen-lam-alef-meem or seen-lam-meem with Alif being weak? I didn't understand this part.

Can you tell me all of the information but in an "idiots guide" kind of way?

Many thanks!

[Abuz Zubair]

Please can you tell me what S-L-M is?

S-L-M denote the three main letters in the word Islam.

SLM on its own refers to being safe and secure.

Also, explain to me in idiots terms what is seen-lam-alef-meem or seen-lam-meem with Alif being weak?

I.e. the main letters are Seen, laam and meem. In the word 'Islam', an extra letter is added, i.e. Alif... Since Alif is an added letter, and not an original letter in the word, it is considered a weak letter. I.e. which can be added to add to meaning or subtracted, etc.

Hope that helps.

[Niqaabis]

Thank you Abuz,

Please can you tell me what S-L-M is?



He's reffering to the arabic letters

here (http://www.arabic2000.com/arabic/alphabet.html) is a link with the arabic alphabet, if you click on each letter you can hear how they are suppose to sound

it might make things a bit more clearer, inshaa Allaah (if Allaah wills)

[AkramUKConv]

Right, thank you all for your help.

Please can someone do me a good deed and re-write this for me so it is perfect. I think it would be for my benefit (very much so) but also for non-Muslims. I think I have all the information that I have been given. I need these combimed and written perfectly so they make perfect sense with all the information, like an idiots guide but not missing anything out. In fact, insert the Arabic also in bracets:

Islam means Submission. Arabic root-words are made up of three letters.

(S)een-(L)aam-(M)eem denote the three main letters in the word Islam.

One of the forms of S-L-M is Islam, which means to submit/surrender, and this is what Islam means.

The root word for Islam is (S)een-(L)aam-(M)eem, which means peace and security.

In the word 'Islam', an extra letter can be added, i.e. Alif (Seen-Laam-Alif-Meem). Since Alif is an added letter, and not an original letter in the word, it is considered a weak letter. I.e. which can be added to add to meaning or subtracted, etc.


and

Islam (Silm) means Submission but the root word of Islam is the Arabic word "Salam", which means "Peace".

[Fajr]

The root word s-l-m (سَلِمَ) has different meanings ranging from faultlessness (being intact etc) to being safe and in peace.

The word 'Salaam' is more likely the verbal noun (masdr) of this root word [سلم = سلمٌ/سلام] whereas 'Islaam' is the masdr of the 4th form of the root word which is أسْلَمَ - the meaning changes to submission and surrender.

I don't know, but I find it a little uncomfortable when many people say 'Islaam' means 'peace' etc (without explaining etc), when actually they only share the same root word (no doubt, there is a connection like there is between all forms of a verb) - & that's upto the individual to explain like 'through submitting to Allaah and what He has revealed, one attains peace in this life and the Next.'

[Abu Jalfrezi]

Meaning of the word Islam

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 <!--#include virtual="/saws.htm" -->(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.

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

http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=10446&ln=eng