Islam is the name of the religion, or more properly the ‘way of life’, which God has revealed and which was practiced by all of the Prophets and Messengers of God that He sent to mankind including Moses and Jesus. Even the name Islam stands out unique among other religions in that it means a state of being.
The root Arabic word from which Islam is derived implies peace, safety, salutation, protection, blamelessness, wholesomeness, submission, acceptance, surrender, and salvation. Islam specifically means being in the state of submission to God, worshipping Him Alone, and reverently accepting and obeying His Law. Through this submission, the peace, security, and wholesome well-being implied in its literal meaning is achieved.
Hence, a muslim (male) or muslimah (female) is a person in that state of submission. A person’s Islam weakens through sins, ignorance, and wrong-doing, and becomes nullified in totality by associating partners with God or disbelieving in Him.