1. **Qur’an Evidence**
**Qur’an Source:**
Surah Āl ʿImrān, Surah 3, Ayah 19
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ
**Translation:** Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.
**Simple Meaning:** This ayah tells us that the true religion with Allah is Islam. Islam means submitting to Allah, obeying Him, and worshiping Him alone.
**Qur’an Source:**
Surah al-Baqarah, Surah 2, Ayah 131
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
**Translation:** When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.”
**Simple Meaning:** This ayah shows that Islam is surrendering to Allah with trust and obedience. Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام gave himself to Allah completely.
2. **Hadith Evidence**
**Hadith Source:**
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 8, Sahih
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ، شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعَرِ، لَا يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ، وَلَا يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ... قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ. قَالَ: «أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا»
**Hadith Meaning:** Islam is to testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, to pray, give zakah, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj if you are able.
**Simple Explanation:** The Prophet ﷺ taught that Islam is complete surrender to Allah. It includes belief in the heart, words on the tongue, and actions with the body.
**Hadith Source:**
Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1, Sahih
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى
**Translation:** Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended.
**Simple Explanation:** This means a Muslim should do things for Allah, with a heart that is turning to Him and surrendering to Him.
3. **Scholars’ Explanation**
**Ibn Kathir** explained in his tafsir that Islam means submitting to Allah and obeying Him alone.
**Imam al-Nawawi** explained in *Sharh Sahih Muslim* that Islam is built on surrender to Allah through belief and the main acts of worship.
4. **Simple Definition**
Yes — you are right.
**Islam means surrendering to Allah**.
It also means:
1. believing Allah is One,
2. obeying Him,
3. following the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ,
4. and living with peace, mercy, and good manners.
So the word **Islam** is very close to **“surrender”** or **“submission”** to Allah.
5. **Very Simple Example**
If someone trusts Allah so much that they say, “Allah knows best, and I will obey Him,” that is Islam.
**Takeaway:**
Islam means surrendering to Allah with obedience, love, and trust.
Allah knows best.