What Are the Followers of Islam Called?

Billions of people around the world practice Islam every day — praying five times, fasting during Ramadan, giving to charity, and reading the Quran. But the question "what are the followers of Islam called?" opens into something richer than a one-word answer. The name Muslims is itself a theological statement, a description of a daily practice, and a membership in the world's most diverse faith community.

Whether you are encountering Islam for the first time, studying comparative religion, or a Muslim who wants to understand what your own name means, this guide walks through the full picture.

What Are the Followers of Islam Called?

Followers of Islam are called Muslims — a name that comes directly from the Quran. The word Muslim (مُسْلِم) is derived from the Arabic root s-l-m, which carries the meanings of peace, safety, and submission. Allah named believers Muslims in His final revelation: "He named you Muslims before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation]" (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:78). A Muslim is, literally, one who has submitted their will to Allah — and who lives accordingly.

What Does "Muslim" Actually Mean?

The Arabic root s-l-m (س-ل-م) is one of the most generative in the entire language. From it come salam (سَلَام — peace), salama (safety), salima (to be safe and sound), and aslama (to surrender, to submit). Islam means the act of submission; Muslim means the one who performs it.

This linguistic connection between peace and submission is not coincidental — it is central to the theology. In Islam, peace is achieved through alignment with the divine will. When a person submits their life to Allah's guidance, they find salam: inner peace, spiritual safety, and a sense of being properly oriented in the world.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described this beautifully when he said: "A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe." (Sahih al-Bukhari 10) The word Muslim, in other words, is not just a label — it is a job description.

Terms for Followers of Islam at a Glance

The Quran and hadith use several terms to describe those who follow Islam, each with a distinct emphasis:

These terms describe the same person from different angles. The famous Hadith of Jibril (Sahih Muslim 8) presents all three dimensions — Islam (submission), Iman (faith), and Ihsan (excellence) — as ascending levels of the same single religion, practiced by the same person.

Where Does the Quran Name Muslims?

Allah did not leave the naming of His community to chance or human convention. He named them directly in the Quran on multiple occasions. In Surah Al-Hajj (22:78), Allah says:

"And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Ibrahim. He named you Muslims before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation]..."

This verse connects Muslims to a tradition older than the revelation of the Quran — the same tradition practiced by Ibrahim ﷺ (Abraham), Musa ﷺ (Moses), and Isa ﷺ (Jesus). In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:132), the Quran records Ibrahim commanding his sons: "My sons, Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except as Muslims."

The Disciples of Isa ﷺ are similarly described: "We are Muslims [in submission to Allah]." (Surah Aal-Imran, 3:52)

This means the term Muslim applies across prophetic history to everyone who submitted to the one God. The followers of the final revelation are simply Muslims who know the complete, preserved, and final message sent to all of humanity.

The Ummah: The Global Muslim Community

When referring to Muslims collectively, the Quran uses the word ummah (أُمَّة) — meaning community, nation, or people bound by a shared purpose. The word appears 64 times in the Quran and describes a community united not by ethnicity, language, or geography but by faith in one God and adherence to the final message.

Allah describes this community in Surah Al-Imran (3:110):

"You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah."

The ummah today includes approximately 1.9 billion people — making it the world's second-largest religious community. The largest Muslim populations are in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and India. Yet Muslims speak thousands of languages, hold countless nationalities, and live on every continent. Their unity is theological, not ethnic.

This is one of the Prophet's ﷺ most celebrated teachings from his Farewell Sermon: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, except through taqwa (God-consciousness)." (Musnad Ahmad 23489)

For a deeper exploration of what the ummah means and how it shapes Muslim identity, see our guide on what is the ummah in Islam.

The Term "Mohammedans" Is Incorrect

For centuries, Western writers referred to Muslims as "Mohammedans" — implying that Islam centers on the worship of Muhammad ﷺ the way Christianity centers on Jesus. This is both inaccurate and considered offensive by Muslims.

Muslims do not worship Muhammad ﷺ. They revere him as the final prophet and messenger of Allah — a human being, not divine. The central act of Islamic worship, Salah (prayer), is directed entirely to Allah alone. The Shahada itself clarifies this: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."

The correct term is always Muslim (singular) or Muslims (plural) — or, collectively, the ummah.

What Makes Someone a Muslim?

A person becomes Muslim through the Shahada — the declaration of faith:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ

"Ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah"

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."

This declaration, made sincerely and with understanding, is the first of the five pillars of Islam. It is the entry point into the Muslim community — and the foundation that every other practice rests upon. Our guide on what is the Shahada in Islam covers this in detail, including what understanding it correctly requires.

Being Muslim is maintained through practice: the five daily prayers, fasting, giving zakat, and — once in a lifetime — completing Hajj. For those considering Islam, our converting to Islam guide addresses the questions most people have before taking this step.

Muslim, Mumin, Muhsin: Three Levels of the Same Faith

The Hadith of Jibril (Sahih Muslim 8) is one of the most comprehensive descriptions of Islamic faith in all of hadith literature. The Angel Jibril appeared to the Prophet ﷺ in human form and asked three questions:

1. What is Islam? — The five pillars: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj
2. What is Iman? — Belief in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree (qadar)
3. What is Ihsan? — To worship Allah as though you see Him; and if you cannot see Him, to know that He sees you

These three — Islam, Iman, and Ihsan — represent progressively deeper levels of the same commitment. A Muslim has declared and practices the faith. A mumin has internalized it as living belief. A muhsin has reached a level of worship where awareness of Allah's presence shapes every moment.

Every Muslim is working along this spectrum. The goal is not just to be called a Muslim but to become the believer the word describes. Our guide on what is iman in Islam unpacks the six articles of faith that anchor this inner conviction.

The DeenBack guide to daily dhikr habits explores how consistent remembrance of Allah helps Muslims move along this spectrum daily. The Demi Manifest piece on Islamic purpose and clarity reflects on how knowing what it means to be a Muslim shapes every dimension of a purposeful life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the followers of Islam called? Followers of Islam are called Muslims — meaning "those who submit to Allah." The name was given by Allah Himself in the Quran (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:78). It applies to approximately 1.9 billion people worldwide who follow the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

What does Muslim mean? Muslim (مُسْلِم) means "one who submits" — derived from the same Arabic root as salam (peace) and Islam (submission). The word describes both an action (submitting to Allah) and an identity (belonging to the community of those who do so).

Is it okay to say Mohammedan? No — this term is both incorrect and considered offensive. Muslims do not worship Muhammad ﷺ; they worship Allah alone. The term Mohammedan implies a parallel with "Christian" that does not exist theologically. The correct term is Muslim.

What is the difference between Muslim and Mumin? Muslim refers to one who has submitted and practices Islam externally. Mumin (مُؤْمِن) emphasizes the inner dimension — belief, conviction, and faith rooted in the heart. In practice, the terms often overlap, but the Hadith of Jibril presents them as distinct levels of the same religion.

How does someone become a Muslim? By sincerely declaring the Shahada — the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger — with understanding and conviction. No intermediary, ceremony, or formal process is required beyond this declaration and the sincere intention that follows it.

Closing Reflection

The followers of Islam are called Muslims — and that name is a gift from Allah, not a historical accident. It connects every believer to a tradition that began with Adam ﷺ, continued through every prophet, and reached its complete and final form in the revelation to Muhammad ﷺ. To be Muslim is to be part of the most diverse human community in history, bound not by blood or nation but by the single conviction that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah.

Whatever brought you to this question — curiosity, study, or your own faith journey — the word Muslim is an invitation to go deeper. Understanding what it means is a lifelong practice, not a one-time achievement.