al-Islām is interpreted in two senses:
1. al-Islām is used in the sense of ikhlas (ikhlāṣ, sincerity); as in the following
verses (āyāt):
When his Lord said to him, "Submit [aslim] (that is, be sincere)," he said, "I have submitted [aslamtu] to the Lord of the worlds" (that is, I have become sincere to the Lord of the worlds). (al-Baqara 2:131)
But if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted my face to Allah [aslamtu] (that is, I have made my religion pure for Allah), and [so have] those who follow me." (Āl ʿImrān 3:20)
And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the unlettered, "Have you submitted?" (that is, have you attained tawhid (the oneness of God) and ikhlas?) If they submit (that is, if they attain tawhid and ikhlas), they are rightly guided (have found hudā (guidance)). (Āl ʿImrān 3:20)
Whoever submits his face to Allah (that is, whoever makes his religion pure for Allah)... (Luqmān 31:22)
There are many similar verses.
2. The term al-Islām is used in the sense of ikrar (expressing acceptance); as in the following verse:
While to Him have submitted (that is, have acknowledged their servitude) whoever is in the heavens (that is, the angels) and the earth (that is, the believers), willingly; and unwillingly (that is, the adherents of other religions have also submitted unwillingly: their acknowledgment of servitude is their submission—their knowledge that Allah created and sustains them is their submission). (Āl ʿImrān 3:83)
The Bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted'" (that is, we have expressed acceptance with the tongue). (al-Ḥujurāt 49:14)
After their Islām/submission (that is, after their expression of acceptance), they disbelieved (that is, after their expression of acceptance, they committed kufr (disbelief) and severed ikhlas). (al-Tawba 9:74)