Most people view Islam narrowly: a religion founded by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in 7th-century Arabia. While Prophet Muhammad was the final messenger, this historical view misses the profound, timeless, and universal nature of Islam itself.

From a universal spiritual stance, Islam is not a new religion; it is the original, natural, and eternal spiritual state of submission to the One God.

1. Islam is Simply “Submission” (Al-Istislām)

The word Islam itself provides the primary, universal definition:

• Islam is the Arabic verbal noun meaning “submission,” “surrender,” or “peace” (salām).
• A Muslim is literally “one who submits.”

The first, most fundamental definition of Islam is therefore the act of consciously and willingly submitting one’s will, actions, and entire being to the Will of God (Allah).

This means every prophet, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), was a Muslim, as their entire mission was to submit to, and call humanity back to, the One God. The message revealed to Prophet Muhammad was simply the perfected and final codified form of this eternal message of submission.

2. Islam is the Natural Religion (Dīn al-Fiṭrah)

Islam is considered the inherent, natural blueprint of every human being and the entire cosmos.

• The Fiṭrah (Innate Disposition): The Qur’an teaches that every human is born with a natural, pure impulse (Fiṭrah) to acknowledge the One Creator. This innate spiritual compass is Islam.
• The State of Creation: The entire universe—the sun, the stars, the laws of gravity, and the quiet rhythm of our own hearts—is operating in perfect obedience to God’s command. In this sense, all of creation is in a perpetual state of Islam (submission). The human spiritual struggle is simply aligning our will with the natural Divine order that already governs the cosmos (Sunnatullah).

3. Islam is the Unbroken Message of Tawhid

Islam is the eternal message of Tawhid (The Oneness of God) that all prophets brought to all nations. This provides the ultimate answer to the question: “If there’s one God, why are there so many religions?”

The answer is: You cannot corrupt something unless it existed in a pure state first. The existence of many varied and often contradictory religions today only proves that a single, pure, simple truth must have existed first.

The Three Pillars of Universal Submission

The prophetic message of Tawhid is divided into three comprehensive pillars:

1. Tawhid al-Rubūbiyyah (Oneness of Lordship): The belief that Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of the universe.
2. Tawhid al-Ulūhiyyah (Oneness of Worship): The belief that Allah alone deserves to be worshipped, obeyed, and dedicated to.
3. Tawhid al-Asmā’ wal-Ṣifāt (Oneness of Names and Attributes): The belief that Allah is unique in His Names and Attributes and is incomparable to creation.

The final revelation of the Qur’an through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) served to restore the original, pure, and universal message of Islam—clearing away the human additions and alterations that had obscured the singular truth.

Islam is not confined by culture, language, or a single geographic region. It is the purest language of the heart—the recognition of the One Source.

The call of Islam is beautifully simple: Return to the One.

And when you do, you will find that the call was not new; it has been ringing within you—from the very beginning of your existence.