How does Islam shape the belief of its followers?
The most important thing to grasp about Muslims is that they see themselves in terms of their religion. They are committed to it. Islam defines their identity. They may not believe all the teachings of Islam but they still define themselves as traditional or cultural Muslims. The vital thing is that issues of faith and religion are of supreme importance to them. Of course, this is not the way that people tend to see themselves in the West. We are more ambivalent towards religion and are likely to find our identity in ways that are decidedly secular. Are Muslims like Jews in this sense? Yes, they are similar in the way that each of their religions tends to define them. If you are born a Muslim or Jew, then that is what you are. You can be Jewish or Muslim without believing everything that the religion teaches. I remember someone once saying to me, “Islam is in your blood. It’s always there”. What is happening today is that as more people become Muslim and Islamic values and identity bec
