When we begin to discuss the subject of religion, we immediately think of the word “Islam” [islām], and we find that the Almighty God stated to us in the Book that Islam is the religion of God that He approves for His worshippers: ‘The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will).’ (The Family of Imran 3:19). If this is the case, what is this religion that the Almighty calls “Islam”?

The desire to propose our question directly to the Highly Exalted to investigate the splendid truth of His Noble Book without undue protraction compels us to note that it mentions the terms “assenting,” “Islam,” “Muslim,” and “the Muslims” in various places that we must approach to understand what they mean:

1—In the era of Noah: ‘Relate to them the story of Noah. Behold! He said to his people: “O my people, if it be hard on your (mind) that I should stay (with you) and commemorate the signs of Allah, yet I put my trust in Allah. Get you then an agreement about your plan and among your partners, so your plan be on to you dark and dubious. Then pass your sentence on me, and give me no respite. But if you turn back, (consider): no reward have I asked of you: my reward is only due from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah´s will (in Islam) [min al-muslimīn].’ (Jonah 10:71–72).

2—In the era of Abraham and Lot:

—‘Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in faith, and bowed his will to Allah´s (which is Islam) [ḥanīf muslim], [A 16] and he joined not gods with Allah.’ (The Family of Imran 3:67)

—Lot: ‘We brought forth such believers as were in it, but We found not therein except one house of those that have surrendered themselves [bait min al-muslimīn].’ (The Wind that Scattter 51:35–36, AA)