Muslims see Islam as the submission to divine law, and anything that has surrendered itself to this law as being call Muslim (f. Muslima). Religious and pious human beings often prefer the words
muhsin and
mu'min, the former term applying to someone who does good deeds, is righteous and beneficent, and the latter to someone who believes or has faith. The word for faith,
iman, is closely related to the words for safety, security, and trust, and for many Muslims having faith automatically implies being in God's protection, secure within the principles of guidance He has provided. The belief in Allah's oneness is called
tawhid, which not only means "divine unity" but also a person's act of affirming that unity. The word for piety
taqwa also carries connotations of strength and empowerment.
Muslims see this relationship with Allah as an intimate one in which Allah's creation of human beings is a blessing, and His laws and restrictions are not an affliction but an act of grace providing guidance in this life. Muslims hold the belief that our life in this world is actually a test for an eternal afterlife; God has provided us with clear guidance through scripture and prophets, so it is incumbent upon us to obey Him in all forms.
The Qur'an
Muslims see the Qur'an as the greatest sign of Allah in the physical universe. In fact, individual verses of the Quran are called
ayat (literally meaning "signs"). The text refers to itself as "guidance for the world" and "a clear sign for those who can understand." It provides instructions on how to live your life, and it also acts as a source of ethical guidance for the things that it does not provide clear instruction on.
Allah's final revelation, the Qur'an contains the sum total of what Allah plans to reveal to humanity; therefore, behind the finite, literal message of the Quran is an infinite reservoir of divine wisdom. Qur'anic revelations came from heaven. Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not become acquainted with the whole of the Qur'an at once, but only with isolated sections of it. The Quran contains only a few obscure hints as to how it was communicated to the prophet Muhammad SAW. In fact, it is from later Islamic writings (including the
Hadith) that we learn how Muhammad (PBUH) would occasionally go into trances when he received a revelation and would then recite it to those around him.
Learning and reciting the Quran has been made obligatory for all Muslims to receive enlightenment and rewards from their creator.