Islam and Human Rights — Page 15
15 i i Man and the Universe Islam is an Arabic word, derived from a root which means both “peace” and “submission”. It thus connotes the attainment of peace, here and Hereafter, through sub mission to Allah, or, in other words, through conformity to His Will. A person who thus submits is a Muslim. In the Quran (the scripture of Islam), the appellation “Muslim” is applied to all the righteous. For intance, Abraham is described as “ever inclined to God and in submission to Him [Muslim]” (2:68). “When his Lord said to him: Do thou submit, he responded: I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds. The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons-and so did Jacob, saying: O my sons, truly Allah has chosen this religion for you; so let not death overtake you except when you are in a state of submission [Muslim]” (2:132- 133).