Who are Muslims?
The word Muslim, like Islam, comes from the three-letter Arabic root s-l-m, and literally means “one who submits (to God).” Islam teaches that everything in Creation – microbes, plants, animals, mountains and rivers, planets, and so forth – is “muslim,” testifying to the majesty of the Creator and submitting or committing to His divine laws. Human beings, also, are considered fundamentally “muslim” (submitters to God) in their original spiritual orientation, but being unique creations endowed with abilities of reason, judgement, and choice, they may remain on a God-conscious, righteous path towards divine reward, or may veer away as a consequence of upbringing and life-choices. More commonly, the term Muslim refers to one who believes in the Shahadah (the declaration of faith containing the basic creed of Islam) and embraces a lifestyle in accord with Islamic principles and values. Anybody may be or become a Muslim, regardless of gender, race, nationality, color, or social or economic
