Islam - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

Maybe your like

SKIP TO CONTENT Islam /ˈɪzlɑm/ /ˈɪzlɑm/ IPA guide

Other forms: Islams

Islam is the name of the religion that Muslims practice. A follower of Islam believes that the Qur'an is the word of God.

If you practice Islam, you're a member of a religion that places great importance on serving God and following Islamic law. Islam is believed by Muslims to be the ultimate religion, revealed over time by many prophets, including Abraham and Jesus. The root of the word Islam is the Arabic islam, or "submission to God's will," from aslama, "he resigned, he surrendered, he submitted."

Definitions of Islam

noun the monotheistic religious system of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Koran synonyms: Islamism, Mohammedanism, Muhammadanism, Muslimism see moresee less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... Mahdism belief in the appearance of the Mahdi; devotion to a Mahdi Salafi movement, Salafism a militant group of extremist Sunnis who believe themselves the only correct interpreters of the Koran and consider moderate Muslims to be infidels; seek to convert all Muslims and to insure that its own fundamentalist version of Islam will dominate the world Shiism the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs Wahabism, Wahhabism a conservative and intolerant form of Islam that is practiced in Saudi Arabia Ismailism the branch of Shiism noted for its esoteric philosophy type of: monotheism belief in a single God
noun the civilization of Muslims collectively which is governed by the Muslim religion “Islam is predominant in northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, and Indonesia” synonyms: Muslimism see moresee less type of: civilisation, civilization a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)

Pronunciation US /ˈɪzlɑm/ UK /ˈɪzlɑm/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

MLA
APA
Chicago

Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘Islam'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing Islam

Africa - Introductory

Review this list of words related to Africa and explore the diverse countries of the world's second-largest continent. You'll learn about the climate, biomes, natural resources, and geographical features of Africa. This list also covers African wildlife, including the gazelle, the lemur, the wildebeest, and more.

Africa - Middle School

South Asia - Introductory

You don't need a sherpa to guide you through South Asia — just practice this list! Learn all about South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. You'll review the physical geography of the subcontinent, agriculture and industrialization, major religions including Hinduism and Buddhism, and much more.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Get started Learn with us

Learner subscriptions
Vocabulary lists
Dictionary
Test Prep
Join a Vocabulary Jam
Commonly confused words
Word of the day

Teach with us

For educators
For schools and districts
How it works
Success stories
Research
Professional development
Contact sales

Resources

Help articles/FAQ
Teaching resources
Learner resources
ESL/ELL resources
Grade level resources
IPA Pronunciation
Contact support

Leaderboards

Vocabulary Bowl
Today's leaders
Weekly leaders
Monthly leaders

About

Our Mission
Blog
Tell us what you think
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

My Account Log in Sign up

Log Out
My Learning
My Proficiency Report
My Profile
Schools & Teachers
My Classes
Assignments & Activities
My Lists
- Find a List to Learn...
- Create a New List...
My Progress
- Words I'm Learning
- My Trouble Words
- Words I've Mastered
- My Achievements
User Administration
User Authentication
My Account