Are There Two Meanings of “Islam”?

The Qur’an seems to use the word Islam in two distinct senses, and recognizing this can clarify many religious debates.

1️⃣ Timeless Islam (Universal Submission)
In its basic meaning, Islam simply means submission to God.
In this sense, the Qur’an speaks of Abraham, the disciples of Jesus, and other faithful people as “Muslims” — even though they lived long before Muhammad.
Here, Islam is not a historical religion, but a universal posture of trust, obedience, and surrender to the one God.
Anyone, in any time, who truly submits to God belongs to Islam in this sense.

2️⃣ Time-bound Islam (Historical Community)
At the same time, the Qur’an also presents Islam as a specific historical path revealed through Muhammad.
After his mission, submission to God is defined as accepting Muhammad as God’s messenger and following the Qur’an and the practices that flow from it.
In this sense, Islam becomes a distinct religious community with beliefs, rituals, and law.

Why this matters
This two-level understanding explains an important tension in the Qur’an:

• Islam is described as eternal and universal
• Yet it is also tied to a particular prophet and moment in history

Classical Islamic theology largely resolved this tension by emphasizing the second meaning.
But the first meaning remains deeply rooted in the Qur’an’s language itself.

In short:
Islam can be understood both as

• a timeless way of submission to God, and
• a time-bound religious tradition centered on Muhammad

Recognizing this distinction opens space for deeper dialogue, historical honesty, and a more nuanced understanding of faith.

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What Stephen Wanted People to Believe

Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 is not a traditional sermon asking people to accept a set of doctrines. Instead, it is a powerful retelling of Israel’s history, meant to show the deep meaning of Jesus’ rejection. Stephen wants his listeners to understand one central truth: Israel has repeatedly resisted the messengers God sends, and this pattern has reached its climax in the rejection of Jesus.

By recalling Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and the prophets, Stephen shows that God often works in unexpected ways and through unexpected people. The religious leaders of each generation fail to recognize God’s activity, and the present generation has done the same by rejecting Jesus, whom Stephen calls “the Righteous One.” Thus, the first thing he calls people to believe is that Jesus truly is God’s chosen and righteous servant.

Stephen also challenges the belief that God’s presence is tied to the Jerusalem temple. He insists that God does not live in temples made by human hands; God’s presence moves freely wherever He chooses. This prepares the way for understanding that God is now revealing Himself through Jesus and through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Another key point in Stephen’s message is the role of the Holy Spirit. Stephen accuses his audience of resisting the Spirit just as their ancestors resisted God’s voice. He wants them to believe that the Holy Spirit is actively testifying to Jesus, and that ignoring this voice is rejecting God Himself.

The climax of Stephen’s message is his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God, a declaration that Jesus has been exalted and now shares in God’s authority. This is ultimately the belief that enrages the council, but it is the core truth Stephen wants the people to acknowledge.

In short, Stephen calls people to believe that Jesus is God’s chosen one, that God cannot be confined to religious traditions or buildings, and that the Holy Spirit is revealing Jesus as Lord. Accepting these truths is, for Stephen, the true way to understand and obey God.