Differences between Islam- and Muslim

Differences between Islam and Muslim

Though related, the terms Islam and Muslim have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable. Islam is the name of a monotheistic religion, whereas a Muslim is an adherent of Islam. Therefore, one refers to the faith itself, and the other refers to a person who follows that faith. Both words originate from the same Arabic triliteral root, S-L-M, which is central to concepts of submission, surrender, and peace.

Islam is an Abrahamic religion that teaches there is only one God, named Allah in Arabic, and that Muhammad is his final prophet. Its sacred scripture is the Quran. The word "Islam" is the verbal noun derived from the verb aslama, meaning "to submit" or "to surrender". In a religious context, this means submission to the will of God.

A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam. The word "Muslim" is the active participle of the same verb, aslama, and means "one who submits". While the term is most commonly associated with followers of the faith established by the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran uses the word in a broader sense to refer to earlier prophets, such as Abraham, who submitted to God.

Comparison table

Category	Islam	Muslim
Definition	An Abrahamic, monotheistic religion.	An adherent or follower of the religion of Islam.
Part of Speech	Noun.	Noun (a person) or adjective (describing a person, practice, etc.).
Etymology	From the Arabic verbal noun islām, meaning "submission". | From the Arabic active participle muslim, meaning "submitter" or "one who submits".
Primary Concept	Refers to a system of belief and worship.	Refers to a person's religious identity.
Example in a Sentence	"The five pillars are fundamental practices in Islam."	"That person is a Muslim, and they pray five times a day."
Adjective Form	Islamic (e.g., Islamic art, Islamic law).	Muslim (e.g., Muslim community, Muslim traditions).
Plurality	Singular; it is the name of a religion.	Singular or plural (Muslims).

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Islam- and Muslim

Etymology and relationship

The connection between Islam and Muslim is embedded in their shared Arabic root, س-ل-م (S-L-M). This triliteral root forms a class of words associated with peace, wholeness, and submission.

• Islam (إسلام) is a verbal noun, signifying the act of submission itself. It represents the commitment and total surrender to the will of God.
• Muslim (مُسْلِم) is the active participle, which denotes the person or agent who performs the action of the verb. Thus, a Muslim is one who actively engages in the submission described by the word Islam.

This grammatical relationship clarifies that being a Muslim is a direct result of practicing Islam.

Usage

Correct usage avoids conflating the religion with its followers. "Islam" should not be used when referring to the people. For instance, a phrase like "the Islamic world" refers to regions where Islam is a dominant cultural or religious force, while "the Muslim world" refers to the global community of its adherents. The adjective "Islamic" typically refers to things related to the religion as a system, such as "Islamic theology" or "Islamic architecture", while "Muslim" can be used as an adjective for people or things associated with them, like "a Muslim scholar" or "Muslim holidays".