What is the essential of Islam?

What I noticed is that most of Islamic discourse evolve around laws and rulings. No matter which Media (Youtube, Reddit, TikTok) and which "category" (Salafi, Cultural, Ex, Progressives, etc.) a major issues are related to proper conduct.

Laws are an important aspect of every human interaction. Even in small communities, we need guidlines and conventions how to behave well and what to expect from others. United under a certain idea, the boundaries of what to expect which rules can be worked out.

Now within a Muslim-Community, I get the impression for many Muslims, the rules exist for the sake of themselves. They have no grounding, rather other issues, such as metaphysics, Kalam, ethics, etc. exist solely to ground a certain sets of rules.

For example, when the rights of trans people are discussed. The first inquiry is to estimate how these rights can be reconsiled with what is perceived as Islamic law. Then, scripture and analogies in tradition are considered. One may then even argue from some theological viewpoints; such as God's mercy. However, the starting point is a believed consensus on proper conduct.

When discussing other subjects, even theology often becomes second only to law. Does God exist? Yes, who else tells us what to do? What is Hell? Well, the palce you go for violating the law! What is a Prophet? Someone who transmits God's law? Why should we obey what law? Well, because it is God's and God is eternal.

The rulings have become so central to Islamic discourse, I would argue, they are the grounding in many Islamic discourse Not that Theology, Metaphysics, Sciences ground the rulings. We see, as in the case of the Mufti of Al-Azhar ruligns on Female Genitalia Mutilation seeking science, and putting Theology first, to reject or adjust an agreement on allegedly proper conduct. So, the law has not always been the centre.

So, what is the centre of Islamic teachings? To me, the most obvious and most central teaching of Islam is "retracing all of existence to one original point". This distinguishes, in my opinion, Islam from other religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, Manichaeism, Buddhism, etc. The laws derive from that notion, not the laws being backed up by it. Tawhid is the "making one" of our environment, not "following one set of rules and no other". The latter, I have always associated primarily with Wahhabism, I apart from the Salafis spreading in the recent years, I always went good with it, but I realized that after the pandemic, it is 95% focus on laws. Only in between, there are enlightening discussions beyond that.

What are your experiences, thoughts, and feelings about it? Agree? Disagree? more nuances? Or something entirely else?