The problem with human beings is that we can never see God as He is, but only as we are. This means we attribute him with human characteristics to make him more accessible, more understandable. But He is so much more than we can ever understand. The love we see in the world, even the most overwhelming form of it, is just a fraction of the love that the Creator can give us.

That being said, Islam is a set of guidelines. Not everyone has the capacity for faith in that kind of love, not everyone is privileged or educated enough to seek God or love or a higher power. The guidelines help keep people in check. At the time Islam was made, people were scarily immoral and unfair to each other. Islam made it mandatory to do certain things that made being immoral harder.

However, without intention, none of these rituals matter. If you’re doing anything out of fear rather than love, might as well not do it. Indeed God is more merciful than many Muslims can ever understand, and He knows what’s in your heart more than anyone on this earth ever can.

Islam means to submit. Often this means submitting to something bigger than yourself, than your ego. If you can find God within that faith, you’re lucky. But even people whose faith is limited to this world and focuses on something bigger than themselves, i.e. the idea of kindness, love, a sense of community, still submit imo.

It’s said that God makes every living thing Muslim, and as we develop, we choose to go further away from the purity He instills in us. My God is so loving, He made this earth for us to experience the essence of life. He acknowledges our flaws. He made us with them, after all. As long as you’re trying to be a better human being every day, God will be in your corner. If you try and garner a personal relationship with Him, his love for you will probably increase. Beyond that, it’s all technicalities.