The big misconception about Islam to the west, is the space a religion is thought to typically occupy in someone’s mind. This is typically done subconsciously, without the person being aware. For most average rational people, religion is thought to exist in the margin of life. Indeed, for most that do practice it, it typically occupies a parallel corridor in everyday life, with the bulk of life contained in the rational, empirical realm. Islam is indeed different in that regard. The best way to summarize it, is to say it is a form of OCD for the masses.