n. 1. A monotheistic religion characterized by the doctrine of absolute submission to God and by reverence for Muhammad as the chief and last prophet of God. 2. a. The people or nations that practice Islam; the Muslim world. b. The civilization developed by the Muslim world. [Arabic 'islām, submission, from 'aslama, to surrender, resign oneself, from Syriac 'ašlem, to make peace, surrender, derived stem of šlem, to be complete; see šlm in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] |
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