Allah (High is He) has said: 

Who, therefore, turns away from the religion of Abraham except he who fools himself? Indeed, We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he shall be among the righteous. (2.130) When his Lord said to him: “Aslim (surrender / be a Muslim,” he said: “Aslmatu (I have surrendered / I have become a Muslim) to the Lord of all people.” (2.131)

[The true] religion in Allah’s sight is Islam (submission). (from 3.19)

 

It is the faith of your father Abraham. He [Allah] has named you Muslimin (those who submit / Muslims) earlier. (from 22.78)

 

So aslimu (submit / be Muslims) to Him. (from 22.34)

 

So if they dispute with you [O Muhammad!], say: “Aslamtu [I have submitted my will / I have become Muslim] to Allah, and [so has done] whosoever follows me.” (from 3.20)

 

Whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him, and he shall be among the losers in the hereafter. (3.85)

 

And whosoever yuslim (submits his will / be a Muslim) to Allah while being a good-doer then he has grasped the most firm handle. (from 31.22)

 

Make me die musliman (as some who has submitted / as a Muslim) and join me with the righteous. (from 12.101)

 

And I am the first of the muslimin (those that submit / Muslims). (from 6.163)

There are other verses to this effect. The repeated mention of Islam is indicates its high position and glorifies its status.

 

Islam has an outward aspect (dhahir) and an inward aspect (batin). Its outward aspect is to agree with Allah (High is He), and its inward aspect is to not dispute with Him.

 

Islam is action of the bodies, while refraining from disputation and istislam[1] (surrender) is action of the hearts. Islam is like an appearance, and istislam is the spirit of that appearance. Islam is outward and istislam is its inward aspect. The Muslim is the person who submits himself to Allah, thus outwardly obeying him and inwardly surrendering to his power.

 

The station of istislam is established by avoiding disputing Allah’s rulings and resigning to Him with respect to what He does and undoes. So anybody who claims to be practicing Islam is asked to practice istislam: “Say [O Muhammad!]: ‘Bring your proof, if you are truthful’” (from 2.111).

 

Don’t you see that when the Lord of Abraham (peace be on him) said to him: “Aslim (surrender / be a Muslim)” he said: ““Aslmatu (I have surrendered / I have become a Muslim) to the Lord of all people.” When he was put in the bonfire, the angels sought help: “Your friend has been afflicted with what You know.” The True One (glorified and High is He) said: “Gabriel, go to him. If he asks for your help, help him; otherwise, leave Me with My friend.” When Gabriel approached him (Abraham) from the air, he asked him: “Do you need something?” He replied: “From you, no; but from Allah, yes.” He said: “Ask him then [for your need].” He replied: “No need for my request, as He already knows my situations!”

 

He did not seek the help of other than Allah, and he did not intend to do anything without Allah. He surrendered to Allah’s decree, preferring having Allah’s looking after him over his looking after himself, the care of the True One for him over his care for himself, and the knowledge of the True One (High is He) over his asking for help. He knew that the True One has been subtly kind to him in all of his circumstances. So Allah (High is He) praised him [saying]: “And Abraham who fulfilled [his word]” (53.37).

 

He rescued him from the fire, so the High One said: “We said: ‘O fire! Be coolness and safety for Abraham’” (21.69). Those of knowledge have said: “Had the True One (Glorified is He) not said ‘and safety,’ is coolness would have killed him, so that fire abated.” Those who have knowledge of the stories of the prophets (prayer and peace be on them) have said: “At that time, every fire in the east and west abated, thinking it was the one being addressed.” It has been reported that the fire burned only his shackles.

 

Notes
[1]The terms "Islam" and "istislam" share the same root "silm."

Copyright © 2009 Translated by Louay Fatoohi
All Rights Reserved