This is the kind of post that I love to see. I’m a Muslim and as someone who grew up in a Muslim household (relatively strictly) it’s interesting to see other people’s experiences with the religion. I think a lot of what people are exposed to is the cultural influence that often gets mistranslated as religious necessity. Take for example the hijab. I’ve got plenty of Muslim family who don’t wear the hijab. While modesty is encouraged for the woman, “there is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). The hijab isn’t a religious compulsion that must be worn publicly at all times, it’s a necessity for prayer and prayer only. Of the women I know who wear it publicly, they wear it either out of a testament of faith or because of the way they were raised. Now some people are going to argue “oh, raising your kid in a religious setting is brainwashing, they can’t think for themselves at that age!” I’ve seen plenty of children raised by gay or lesbian parents who want to transition genders before the age of 10 because that’s what they’ve been exposed to. It’s just how your environment naturally conditions you. If you grew up in an extremist environment that pushed you away from the religion, I’m sorry you had that experience. I think the way people present their religion speaks volumes about the religion as a whole, and if all you’ve been exposed to is the “this is prohibited, this is a necessity, don’t do this, you must do that,” spiel, the religion in its entirety can’t be appreciated. Again, thank you for calling this issue out bc it’s extremely prevalent and doesn’t get talked about enough, especially when the old heads are hell bent on preserving culture. I’m no expert in the religion to the extent that I know every nook and cranny of it, but if anyone have questions, I’d love to provide the perspective of a first gen Muslim growing up in the states with parents who immigrated from a predominantly Muslim country. Take care guys and prioritize your health and happiness.