Islam is not singular, but multifaceted.
The urban youth, raised in a modern lifestyle, is often not drawn to Islam through rural imams. Instead, they are attracted to scholars, both domestic and international, who address their tastes and preferences. These scholars' attire, culture, and demeanor appeal to them. They prefer spacious, air-conditioned mosques with tiled floors. The grandeur of Islam attracts them. They enjoy learning about physiological responses to attractive women from peer-reviewed journal articles.
Conversely, those raised in rural settings prefer to hear about Islam in their regional dialect, with a melodious tone that carries the scent of the earth. They seek guidance from imams dressed in simple punjabis and lungis. They find solace in praying in mud-built mosques, feeling the breeze from open fields through the windows. They can relate to discussions about physical attraction in religious gatherings, understanding the core message through personal experience.
A gentle-natured woman might be drawn to Islam's stories of compassion. A non-Muslim army general might be attracted to Islam by the courage of Muslim warriors. The opposite could also be true. A hedonistic glutton might suddenly find enlightenment in Islam's month-long fasting requirement.
Thus, Islam has countless facets. The urban youth might recoil at hearing crude analogies about attraction. The rural individual might feel uncomfortable in an air-conditioned mosque. The gentle woman might initially struggle with the concept of slavery in Islamic history. The general might take time to accept the command to forgive personal enemies.
However, the fundamentals of Islam must remain intact in all cases. A foreign sheikh teaching polytheism in eloquent language is not Islam. A rural imam melodiously teaching religious innovations is not Islam. Reserving space in an air-conditioned mosque for a secular ruler who doesn't consider Sharia essential is not Islam. A village mosque with elevated graves of saints in its center is not Islam. A hijab-wearing successful banker or bar girl is not Islam.
Therefore, let's edit the opening statement, brother. The expressions of Islam are diverse, but Islam itself is one. May Allah grant us the proper understanding to differentiate between variations in Islamic expression and complete deviations from Islam.
