I have

been trying to talk to my friend about Islam. She thinks I'm just an odd-ball and has no interest in Islam beyond the historical interest. It's a sad case. I don't know why I converted to Islam and she just doesn't. I don't know why I think God is important but she prefers TV. I don't know why I consider the Creator of the entire Universe is worthy of worship whilst she prefers to ignore such a self-evidently important entity. *Shrugs* I don't get her just as much as she doesn't get me. But then, I've *been* her and after research, changed - the infuriating bit is that she doesn't want to even *read* about Islam.

Why should this bother me? Me to my religion and them to theirs? Fair do's. But Islam isn't about relativism. It isn't about taking the bits that suit you and hiding the rest behind your backs. It isn't about pick and mix spirituality and it isn't about the validity of everyone's whim and opinion. Islam is based on revelation - Divine Writ verbatim, and that is not up for negotiation. It is post-modern oddity that states that everyone can be right and no one can be wrong. This notion is an absurdity, and if pushed to its logical conclusions, also deeply hypocritical, because one thing which postmodernity does not tolerate is the undermining of its central tennet that anything can be knowable. Islam does not regard all paths as equal, and some are even considered non valid (such as those that state that there is more than one God or that He has a partner, son or associate).

You can't get to God on *your* terms, but only on His. If Allah ta'ala says hop on one foot for three hours a day then that is the yardstick by which we measure our actions - you either hop on one foot or you don't. You can't say "I don't consider hopping important" or "God will understand that I don't feel like hopping but He will forgive me just the same" or "I don't hop but I'm just as good as those who do". Clearly obedience and disobedience are not equal.

The sad part is that I think, like so many other people - Muslims included - that she has mixed ethnicity with religion and culture. So to be a white English person you necessarily must be Christian. Wasn't she shocked when she found out that there are Arab Christians. Very confusing to have her boundaries blurred. I am English and white - but I define myself through my beliefs, which have not merely been an accident of birth but of determined choice (and grace of Allah). This instinct to be Christian because we are British is very odd, not just because she doesn't actually know what it means to be a Christian anyway (in any variety).

Another thing which is sad is that it is the hijab/scarf that puts her off. But the five pillars of Islam are based on Shahada, five prayers, fasting, zakat and Hajj - not hijab!! Of course, every order of Allah is important, but surely it is better to be a struggling Muslim who is coming to terms with hijab/whatever than a rejector of faith altogether in Allah's eyes? And she does believe in One God, I just wish she could understand that these are weighty issues - not a question of life and death - much much more important than that. If something is True then it is True - you cannot barter with Truth if you hope for good.

She also has the idea that you have to be a saint to be a Muslim. I can't understand where she gets this notion from seeing as she has the friend that she has... Islam is meant for all people at whatever spiritual level they are on - some really love Allah and devote a lot to Him whilst others do the basics. "Yes, but the basics is too much"... five prayers a day?? ... "Yes... thats extreme".... Hmm... if someone told you that five times a day the bank would give everyone who turned up £1000 to keep you would go wouldn't you... "Oh Yes!!"... right. You'd make the effort to feed the animal self, but not for your soul and to please Allah. It isn't the effort that's the hard part - its the thing you worship that should change...

Rant over.