ENGLISH
REFERENCE

islam

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɪsˌɫɑm// is·lam

n. the religion of Muslims, which teaches that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his messenger. It is one of the largest religions in the world.

n. the monotheistic religion based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as revealed in the Quran. It is the second-largest religion globally and is practiced by approximately two billion people.


SIMPLE

Islam is a major world religion with many different traditions.

CONTEXTUAL

The history of Islam includes a rich period of scientific and artistic growth during the Middle Ages.

COMPLEX

Scholars often examine the spread of Islam through trade routes and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed around 1610 from Arabic إِسْلَام (ʔislām, “submission, surrender”), verbal noun of أَسْلَمَ (ʔaslama), from the root س ل م (s l m).

Usage

Always capitalized as it is a proper noun. Refers to the faith itself, while 'Muslim' refers to the person who practices it.

Pitfall

He is an Islam.He is a Muslim.Learners often confuse the name of the religion (Islam) with the word for a person who follows it (Muslim).

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