Are Muslim and Islam the Same? Similarities & Key Differences

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Plus, how to use “Muslim” and “Islam” correctly in conversation

Co-authored by Belal Elkadri and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: June 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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Are Islam and Muslim the same?

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Proper Usage

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Definition of Islam

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Definition of Muslim

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Islam vs. Islamism

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FAQ

Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion, and you’ve probably heard the term “Muslim” in a similar context. But is there a difference between “Islam” and “Muslim”— or are they the same thing? If you want to learn the distinction between these popular religious terms, keep reading for a complete explanation, including definitions and how to use the terms correctly.

Islam vs. Muslim: An Overview

Islam expert Belal Elkadri says that Islam is the religion, and Muslims are the people that practice the religion. The terms are not used interchangeably, as “Islam” is a noun and “Muslim” is an adjective. For example, you might say, “In Islam, Muslims pray five times a day.”

Section 1 of 6:

Are “Islam” and “Muslim” the same thing?

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No, they're not exactly the same thing, but they're closely related. “Islam” is the name of the religion, and “Muslim” refers to the followers of that religion. This means that “Islam” is a noun and “Muslim” is an adjective. There are a number of different sects of Islam–like Sunni, Shiite, and Sufi–but all followers are considered Muslims.^{[1]
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- Similarly, “Christianity” defines the religion and “Christians” describes its followers, Same for “Judaism,” which is the name of the religion, and “Jews," which are the followers.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Use “Islam” and “Muslim” Appropriately

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Use “Islam” as a noun and “Muslim” as an adjective. Although these terms are related, they can’t be used in the same way. “Muslim” refers to a person, while “Islam” refers to a belief system. If you’re still a bit confused, try to remember that the former is a descriptor and the latter is what’s being described. Here are a few examples of how to use these words correctly:^{[2]
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- “Muslims don’t eat pork as it is forbidden by Islam.”
- “Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan by fasting from dawn to sunset. Fasting is one of the main pillars of Islam.”
- “My Muslim friend, Adnan, is doing his pilgrimage to Mecca this year– it’s a rite of passage in Islam!”
- “Muslim women can choose to dress modestly, which is encouraged by Islam.”
- “In order to convert to Islam, all you have to do is recite the Shahada. Afterwards, you’re considered a Muslim!”

Section 3 of 6:

Definition of "Islam"

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Islam is the name of the world’s second largest religion. Islam is defined as the religious faith of all Muslims. Islam was founded by the prophet Muhammed in 7th century Mecca, which is modern day Saudi Arabia. Islam’s primary religious text is called the Quran, and their unique personal god is named Allah, which is Arabic for “god” or “deity.”^{[3]
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- The five pillars of Islam are a declaration of faith, prayer five times a day, charity, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- "Islam" is the Arabic word for "submission."^{[4]
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Section 4 of 6:

Definition of “Muslim”

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“Muslim” is the name for the followers of Islam. The term “Muslim” is used to describe the group of people that follow the Islamic faith. Muslims live by the teachings of the Quran, which involves embracing a halal, or lawful, lifestyle, and avoiding haram, an unlawful lifestyle. This ranges from the way Muslims behave to what they eat. Although not all Muslims practice the same way, they generally follow a strict moral code which includes following the 5 pillars of Islam to varying degrees.^{[5]
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- "Muslim" is the Arabic word for "one who submits to God."^{[6]
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  Mufti Samir Wahid
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Section 5 of 6:

Islam vs. Islamism

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Islam is a religion while Islamism is a political ideology. Despite how similar the two sound, there is one stark difference: Islam is a religion and Islamism is a political belief that stems from conservative— and often intolerant— Muslim ideals. Islamism is a radical approach to integrating politics and religion in every facet of life in the Islamic world, as they don’t believe in the separation of church and state, so to speak. Islamists are typically anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-Western culture.^{[7]
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- It’s important to note that while all Islamists are Muslim, only a small subset of Muslims are thought to be Islamists.

Section 6 of 6:

FAQ

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Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion, and recent data revealed the population of Muslims to be around 1.8 billion, or about 24% of the world population. This number is expected to grow by about 32% in the coming decades, with nearly 3 billion projected Muslims in the year 2060, making up 31% of the world population. Currently, Indonesia holds the world’s largest population of Muslims, with about 242 million.^{[8]
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Pew Research Center
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The three main monotheistic religions are Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and they have plenty in common. All three are considered Abrahamic religions, meaning that Abraham is an important figure in each of their scriptures. Other figures, like Moses, are believed to be prophets by all three religions. Moreover, all three religions originated in the Middle East, share holy sites, and adhere to similar principles, like pilgrimage and practicing spiritual discipline.
Yes, as “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for “God,” just like “Yahweh” is the Hebrew word for “God” used by Jews. Despite the different spellings and languages, all three of the major monotheistic worship the same God, although their portrayals can vary significantly across their respective holy books.^{[9]
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Yes, there are several branches of Islam. The main two sects are Sunnism and Shiism, created after a disagreement over who should be Mohammed’s successor. Shi'is thought that it should be a blood relative, while Sunnis thought that their next leader should elected based on merit. Today, about 80% of Muslims are Sunni.^{[10]
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Arabic is the main language of Islam, as the Quran is written in Arabic. However, there are tons of Muslims who are not native Arabic speakers and only use Arabic in reference to the Quran or for other religious purposes. Persian, or Farsi, Turkish, and Urdu are three other important languages spoken in the Islamic world and have borrowed many words from one another.
The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political movement founded in Detroit, Michigan during the 1930s by Wallace D. Fard. Although it borrows certain concepts, principles, and terms from Islam, scholars do not consider it a sect of Islam. Instead, it’s categorized as a new religion with high profile members, like Malcolm X and Muhammed, who advocate for black nationalism. NOI is known for making controversial comments about the white race, such as referring to them as “blue-eyed devils.”^{[11]
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