A name is the most significant hallmark of a school of thought, as we judge them mostly by their names. The word "Islam" means "entering into health." In every language, there are some words that are lexically synonymous but convey very different meanings. If God has named a religion, this name should convey the main philosophy and the eventual purpose of that religion. This means that when one comes across this name, one should understand the essence of that religion and the results of believing in and basing their behavior on that religion. In the Quran, God emphasizes that He has chosen "Islam" as the name of the religion. This emphasizes the fact that the core of Islam is health, health in all physical, mental, spiritual, moral, social, and cultural aspects of life.
This specific emphasis on health in Islam is most evident in greetings between Muslims. In Islam, greeting with "سلام علیکم" ("salaam alaikum"), which means "health be upon you," is an obligatory act. This means that the first thing a Muslim should say when meeting someone is wishing that person good health in all parts of life. This fundamental concept gives us a way to judge everything with glasses of "healthiness." Anything that endangers the health of a society or an individual is considered a sin, and anything that helps to improve the healthiness of the society and its members is deemed a mandatory part of the religion. We can then judge the right/wrong interpretations of the Quran based on the aforementioned fundamental criteria. This also prevents formation of new misinterpretations of the Quran and deviations from the essence of the religion.
When one comes across the name chosen for this religion and its followers—Islam and Muslims, respectively—and one finds out that both of these words are derived from the word "سلم" ("salamah") meaning "being healthy," one immediately understands: This school is abundant with methods and practices to reach maximum healthy and liveliness in all facets of life. This religion's ultimate purpose is to make the world a place full of happiness, peace, and health.
However, what most people have heard about Islam is very different from its real meaning. Submission, surrendering yourself, and absolute obedience are the most prevalent meanings associated with Islam. The Quran believes that true religion is innate in everyone. Therefore, human beings should learn to live healthy lives and to become healthier every day, because their inborn religion will guide them only when they are healthy.
