By the Dawah Norway teamLast updated:
Islam is the faith of roughly two billion people worldwide. The word 'Islam' means peace through willing submission to God. A Muslim is anyone who submits to God — the one Creator, known in Arabic as Allah. Islam teaches that God sent prophets throughout history, from Adam to Muhammad ﷺ, all carrying the same core message: worship the one God and live with justice and mercy.
'Islam' comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, which carries the meanings of peace, safety and submission. To be Muslim is to find inner peace by aligning your life with the will of the Creator. The religion is not named after a person or a place, but after this relationship between the human being and God.
The foundation of Islam is tawhid — the belief that there is only one God, with no partners, no children and nothing comparable to Him. God is the Creator and Sustainer of everything, all-knowing and all-merciful. Muslims worship God directly, without intermediaries, idols or images.
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe it is the literal word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over 23 years and preserved unchanged in its original Arabic for over 1,400 years. It guides Muslims in belief, worship, character and daily life.
Muhammad ﷺ (c. 570–632 CE) is the final prophet in Islam, sent to all of humanity. Muslims do not worship him; they honour him as God's messenger and the best example of how to live. He stands in a long line of prophets that includes Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Islam is built on five pillars: the declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), giving to charity (Zakat), fasting in Ramadan (Sawm) and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Together they shape a balanced life of devotion, generosity and self-discipline.
Islam is one of the largest religions in Norway, with communities and mosques in Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Tromsø and beyond. Dawah Norway helps both Muslims and non-Muslims learn about Islam through free Qurans, lectures and one-to-one mentorship across the country.
Islam means peace attained through willing submission to God. It comes from the Arabic root s-l-m (peace, safety, submission). A Muslim is someone who submits to the one God, Allah.
Muslims worship God alone — called Allah in Arabic — the one Creator of everything. They do not worship the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, any human being, idols or images.
Yes. Muslims believe Islam is the same core message brought by all the prophets, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus — to worship the one God and live righteously.
A person becomes Muslim by sincerely declaring the Shahada: that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger. No ceremony or permission is required.
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