The term Islam is derived from the root Silm which signifies
peace - peace with Allah as well as with all the creatures.
Technically speaking, Islam means "full submission to the Will
of Almighty God in all walks of Life". Every Muslim must
confess and affirm the fact that there is none worthy of
worship and obedience except Allah, and that Muhammad (peace be
upon him) is his slave and Messenger.
Along with the confession
of this basic kalimah, a Muslim has to declare his faith in the
angles, in all the prophets, in the revealed scriptures, in the
day of judgement, and in taqdir (predestination). In the
following pages, some details have been provided for the common
readers, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, about the basic
principles of Islamic faith.
Another basic article of Islamic faith is to believe in
all the Prophets of Allah who were sent by Allah for the
guidance of various nations and people in various times and
periods of the human history. Allah's guidance is the basic
need of humanity which was provided to the human race through
the chosen Messengers in various times. Even the first man Adam
(peace be upon him) was a prophet of Allah who came down with
certain message and code of life.
The actual number of the Prophets is known only to Allah.
The first among them was Adam and the last among them was
Muhammad (peace be upon both of them). Muhammad (peace be upon
him) is the last prophet in the sense that no prophet is to
come after him. Anyone who claims to be a prophet after
Muhammad is not even considered a Muslim. Any one who believes
in the prophethood of such a person is out of the fold of
Isalm. A Muslim must believe in the prophethood of all the
Prophets, in their truthfulness, miracles and in their
messages.