Difference between Islam and Muslim

Islam is one of the most prominent religions in the world. However, for those who are not familiar to it, the terms Islam and Muslim may tend to be confusing. Are they the same thing, or are they different?

The answer is yes and no. Yes, because both believe in and revolve around the same principles. They follow the prophet Muhammed and the teachings of the Qur’an. No, because in form and usage, the two words are different.

Islam is used to refer to the religion itself. It also applies to the community and their practices. On the other hand, Muslims are people who follow the religion. It is a term used to distinguish someone. To give a clearer example, take a look at the following sentences:

• Christianity and Islam are among the most popular religions in the world.
• That neighborhood has a high concentration of the Islamic community.
• That man is a Protestant while his friend is a Muslim.
• Do you recognize that Muslim man over there?

Basically, the two terms are similar in focus, but refer to different aspects of the belief.

	Islam	Muslim
Revolves around	The Prophet Mohammed and the Qur’an.	The Prophet Mohammed and the Qur’an.
Origin of the word	The Arabic verbal noun “s-l-m”.	The Arabic verbal noun “s-l-m”.
Denotes	The religion itself, the culture and the community.	The people who follow the religion.
Further definition	The act itself of submitting to God.	A name, date, numbers, or initials, or a combination of the above.

Venn Diagram