伊斯兰教
Yī sī lán jiào · HSK 7
Islam
☪️ 伊斯兰 spells out the sound Is-lan (Islam) + 教 = religion/teaching
伊斯兰 is a phonetic borrowing: the three syllables Yī-sī-lán echo the word Islam. Tack on 教 (jiào, religion or teaching) and you get the named faith, Islam.
教 — 老 (filial son being taught) + 攵 (hand with stick)
教 originally depicted an adult holding a stick or rod (攵) instructing a child, often shown with the element 爻 (lessons/counting) above 子 (child). It is a classic associative compound meaning 'to teach' or 'to instruct,' with the right side suggesting discipline and guidance. The modern meanings 'teach, religion, doctrine' all extend from this image of formal instruction.