Islam means Peace, and Submission to God's Will. Islam means to be surrendered in heart, soul and body to the Divine. Islam is a way of life, not just a creed. There is no "one way" to practice Islam, it is interpreted differently all over the world. Muslims believe that what Abraham, Moses and Jesus taught was Islam.

Islam is sometimes defined as the practice of "five pillars:" Believing in one God only, and that Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) was a prophet of God, giving alms to the poor, praying five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and making a holy pilgrimage to the "house that Abraham built" if one is able.

Shariah refers to the outer aspect of Islam, but in reality there is no inner and no outer. Shariah is a code of proper and moral action as related in the Qur'an, Bible and Torah. The Shariah is our outward action, what we do, and Muslims believe it should be clean, holy, and of benefit to our fellow humans.

Tariqa is the path we walk to become purified human beings. The holy books ask us to be genuinely compassionate, wanting for our fellow man what we would want for ourselves. This is a state of being that goes beyond our actions. We cannot will ourselves into feeling compassionate, but we can undertake a program of education and practice that helps us to get in touch with that part of ourselves. Joining a Sufi Order is a formal means of practicing tariqa.

Haqiqa refers to the state of illumined witnessing of the divine. It is the result of tariqa, and is grounded by shariah.

Iman refers to faith. If Islam pertains to outward action then Iman is performing those actions with true heart and love for the divine. It is true belief in God, a state that inspires one's soul. Ihsan is the result of Islam performed with Iman. Ihsan is excellence in action and thought. Iqan is the state of illuminated wisdom. Beyong Ihsan, it is a state of being rather than a doing.