Islam means submission. The name Islam has been given to this religion because it is based on submission to God. A person should discover God and recognize Him without seeing Him. This is essential to God-realization.
A Muslim is one who submits to God in thought, word and deed. He conducts all his affairs in obedience to God and accepts His will in every matter. In this sense, Islam is the religion of the entire universe, for everything in the universe functions according to the laws laid down by God.
The same conformity to divine principles is required of human beings. The universe obeys God by compulsion, whereas human beings are required to obey Him of their own free will.
When a person adopts Islam, it first shapes his thinking. Gradually, his desires, feelings, interests and relationships are also shaped by it. His conduct and dealings with others come to reflect the values upheld by Islam. Thus, he becomes obedient to God both inwardly and outwardly.
A human being is created by God; therefore, the right attitude is to live in submission to Him. In Islam, the right way of life is to live in conformity with the will of the Lord. A life lived without awareness of God, on the other hand, is marked by arrogance.
Source: The Spirit of Islam
