Meaning of Islam

[AE Bravo]

What it means, submission

Wrong.

[Fragony]

Wrong.

Nope, literally means it. I am glad most muslims are really nice but islam itself is sick, and as welcome as the inquisition

[Snowhobbit]

Nope, literally means it. I am glad most muslims are really nice but islam itself is sick, and as welcome as the inquisition

Isn't it one of those words with multiple meanings? I think it means peace as well as a bunch of other things.

[AE Bravo]

Nope, literally means it. I am glad most muslims are really nice but islam itself is sick, and as welcome as the inquisition

I'm sure you feel that way, but that's not what it literally means. Nobody would be thinking this if it wasn't for Van Gogh films, Geert Wilders, or other anti-Islam stuff.

[Pannonian]

I'm sure you feel that way, but that's not what it literally means. Nobody would be thinking this if it wasn't for Van Gogh films, Geert Wilders, or other anti-Islam stuff.

Or even the official statement from the group claiming responsibility for the attacks.

[AE Bravo]

Or even the official statement from the group claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Where does it say that Islam means submission?

I couldn't care less about what they say, but it probably doesn't say that.

[Beskar]

I remember coming across as Islam as being "Submission before God/Allah", meant in a similar manner that a Christian is theologically submissive to God/Jesus.

A quick google search confirmed this. even one aptly named "Submission.org" which describes it as the following:

Submission or Islam in the Arabic language is a meaning or a description rather than a name or a title. It describes the state of mind of anyone who recognizes God’s absolute authority, and reaches a conviction that God alone possesses all power; no other entity possesses any power or control independent of Him. The logical consequence of such a realization is to devote one’s life and one’s worship absolutely to God alone.

So, Submission (or Islam in Arabic language) is a spiritual state of mind and not a title of a religion that belongs to a specific group of people. ANYONE who submits and worships one God without idolizing other entities is a Submitter by definition (Muslim in Arabic language).

This state of mind basically conforms with God’s one and only message He delivered to man-kind through all of His messengers since Noah; worship God alone and avoid idolatry. Based on that, one can safely conclude that the message of Islam or Submission has been in existence way before the time of prophet Muhammad and way before Quran. All God’s messengers, since Noah, devoted their lives and worship to God alone and were Submitters to Him alone.

So Fragony is correct that "Islam" means "Submission" in this context However, the key word is Context. It does not mean that the role or goal of islam is to go out and make everyone submit (becoming Muslim) as what is being implied, but it named after the religious stance that the followers of Islam submit to the will of God/Allah.

As for the Peace, a Q&A website makes note of the following:

The Arabic word salaam (سلام) ("Peace") has the same root as the word Islam. One Islamic interpretation is that individual personal peace is attained by utterly submitting to Allah.

As in other Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, etc.), peace is a basic concept in Islamic thought.

The greeting "Salaam alaykum", favoured by Muslims, has the literal meaning "Peace be upon you". Muhammad is reported to have said once: "Not one of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Great Muslim scholars have said that the words ‘his brother’ mean any person irrespective of faith.)

[Pannonian]

Where does it say that Islam means submission?

I couldn't care less about what they say, but it probably doesn't say that.

It says that the relations with the kufar begin with the default position of it being permissible, nay necessary, to kill us, not for what we've done, but for what we are. There may be various modifiers to this, but if in doubt, kill. And perhaps it would be a good idea to pay attention to what they say, since they're the ones acting and all.

[Sarmatian]

It says that the relations with the kufar begin with the default position of it being permissible, nay necessary, to kill us, not for what we've done, but for what we are. There may be various modifiers to this, but if in doubt, kill. And perhaps it would be a good idea to pay attention to what they say, since they're the ones acting and all.

So, your big revelation is that a terrorist organization won't forbid its members from targeting civilians?

STOP THE PRESSES!

[Fragony]

I'm sure you feel that way, but that's not what it literally means. Nobody would be thinking this if it wasn't for Van Gogh films, Geert Wilders, or other anti-Islam stuff.

It means that, sorry I can't change that. Being anti-islam is just sane imho, but I will admit that Wilders and van Gogh are/were sometimes needlesly offensive

[AE Bravo]

It means that, sorry I can't change that. Being anti-islam is just sane imho, but I will admit that Wilders and van Gogh are/were sometimes needlesly offensive

It's the way you presented it. You made it out to imply the forced submission of others when it actually means submitting yourself to higher power, which is exactly the opposite of telling people what to do.

[Pannonian]

It's the way you presented it. You made it out to imply the forced submission of others when it actually means submitting yourself to higher power, which is exactly the opposite of telling people what to do.

Or, as the Caliphate defines it, and as it's been defined in practice, the divide is between those who are of their group, who deserve to live, and everyone else, who deserve to die. I can say that I will never be part of the first group.

[AE Bravo]

By "caliphate" standards me and every Muslim I know is a heretic. I would be beheaded before you are for being a fake Muslim.

[Fragony]

It's the way you presented it. You made it out to imply the forced submission of others when it actually means submitting yourself to higher power, which is exactly the opposite of telling people what to do.

How can I present it otherwise than it's litteral meaning. What you think you read is up to you, not me

[AE Bravo]

How can I present it otherwise than it's litteral meaning. What you think you read is up to you, not me

Read the post above you. The meaning is contested depending on whether you're moderate, brotherhood, etc.

Personally, I haven't met anyone who is comfortable saying his religion literally means "submission."