What Does Islam Mean?

Praise be to Allaah.
Islam means submitting to Allaah, worshipping Him alone and obeying
Him, and shunning shirk (polytheism, associating others with Allaah) and
those who believe in that. This is the religion which Allaah approves for
His slaves. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islam”
[Aal- ‘Imraan 3:19]
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted
of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]
The person who enters this religion is called a Muslim (one who submits),
because he has submitted (aslama) to all the rulings that have come from
Allaah and from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And who turns away from the religion of Ibraaheem (Abraham) (i.e.
Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him
in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!’ He said, ‘I have
submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind,
jinn and all that exists).’” [al-Baqarah 2:130-131]
“Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allaah (i.e. follows
Allaah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin ( a doer of
good who does good deeds solely for the sake of Allaah) then his reward
is with his Lord (Allaah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”
[al-Baqarah 2:112].
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
When Did Islam Start ?
Praise be to Allaah.
Islam began with the beginning of the Prophet’s mission, when Jibraa’eel
(the Archangel Gabriel) brought down the Revelation from Allaah in
Makkah (Mecca) in the Arabian Peninsula. This occurred on a Monday in
the month of Ramadaan, in the fortieth year of the Prophet Muhammad’s
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) life, thirteen years before
his Hijrah (migration) to Madeenah (which marks the beginning of the
Islamic or Hijri calendar). According to the Gregorian calendar, the
beginning of the Prophetic mission happened around 608 or 609 CE.
Salmaan al-Farsi, may Allaah be pleased with him, one of the Companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reported that
between Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
Jesus (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), there were six
hundred years.
And Allaah knows best.