Margot Leger Blog

“Islam is like a pinch of salt.”

This unusual statement might leave you baffled and confused. But through learning about Islam, the Qur’an and Muslim practices, I feel that there are many similarities between this sacred text and the humble saltcellar on your kitchen table.

Salt is one of the basic human tastes. The Qur’an helps answer human beings primordial questions; about life, its meaning and how to go about living it. Islam, is not something that you necessary see out right when you encounter someone – but like salt – although you can’t see it, it flavors life, and once added it becomes a part of a person, and extremely hard to extract. Salt is an integral ingredient in every meal, and often you will notice when it is missing. I feel that the Qur’an and its lessons permeate every aspect of Muslim living – not always consciously, but subtly playing a role.

Salt is an addition – it doesn’t take away from the flavor of your food, and no matter what your meal is, chances are that it will work well with the addition of some salt. Persian Scholar, Farhad Daftary speaks about how diversity in Islamic beliefs has always existed, and how it is important to recognize the plurality of Islam.[1] One of the integral lessons of this class, has been looking at the many different interpretations of Islam, how Islam can exist and be practiced in many different settings, cultures and countries. Like Islam, salt can be used just as well in an American tacos context as it does in a Thai curry. The heart of any religion is people. While God creates meaning, it is people that interpret this meaning in varying ways. This results in many different “Islams” as opposed to only one single “Islam.”  The different schools of thought create a variety of different dishes, keeping the table of Islamic interpretation interesting.

However the salt itself is pure and unchanging. Salt does not change flavor or substance depending on what type of food it seasons.  Although Islam may be made up many different doctrines, the practices remain the same throughout the Muslim world, creating unity through the five pillars that Muslims subscribe to. While orthodoxy and orthopraxy are both important, Islam focuses on orthopraxy. There is an emphasis on the living out of Islam, rather than strictly ensuring the uniformity of people’s beliefs. Salt can be used on a wide variety of meals, and still have meaning.

When I ask someone to “pass the salt” at the dinner table next, I’m going to be reminded of how people all over the world can incorporate salt into their lives, without drastically changing their diets.