Understanding The Straight Path

Are there many Islams, or is Islam just one?

Well, in my understanding, the answer depends much on where you are positioning yourself, whether you are an outsider or an insider. It also depends on your overall understanding of theology, and in particular Islamic theology.

Now, the question popped up because of some popular speaker(s)’s claim that Islam is actually many; it is somewhat civilization-dependent contrary to Islam’s claim of universality, not only in terms of its theological nature but also according to its applicability.

Yes, civilizational and cultural contexts do matter in people’s understanding of almost everything, including divine messages, but to what extent? That’s the most important question here, I suppose. And here comes one’s positionality that I have mentioned at the onset. An insider would think, with all the differences, we are still adhering to the basic tenets of Islam; if someone fails to do so, he simply goes out of Islam, not creating another Islam. But an outsider would simply take it as two different versions of Islam, thus supporting the idea of many Islams. However, it is also possible for an outsider to think and conclude like an insider that Islam is actually one. But I don’t see any possibility for an insider to conclude that Islam is many.

Observing the reality of the Muslim societies with regard to their practices of Islam, while critiquing Western politics and policies vis-à-vis the Muslims, Edward Said used the phrase “many Islams." And, even though he was very sympathetic towards the Muslim causes, he was still an outsider. Besides, there are many who are comfortable with the idea of “many Islams” as they observe and analyze the sectarian and syncretic developments within the Muslim communities, only from outside! Now, is it possible that someone may not be aware of his positionality? Yes, I think so.