I had a pretty interesting afternoon trying to figure out why so many Muslims have turned Atheists. They seem to come out more now, and don’t care. You would think, that out of all the religions, a conservative one such as Islam, you would not have such a lack of faith.
A few weeks ago, when I learned that my cousins turned Christian, I was a bit dumbfounded. It is disappointing; however, it would have been worse if they completely lacked the faith of a higher power. At least they still believe in God, right?
In general, this lack of faith has a lot to do with where they are currently living, or what they are exposed to. Also, more and more Muslims are reading too much into their religion, and see how others are slowly destroying the image of it. Western media is trying to destroy it slowly. Muslims are lacking faith and don’t want to live this life, and are turning into a complete and opposite direction. I feel like we are back over 1400 years ago at the time of Jahiliyyah. I thought we ended this era. However, it doesn’t seem to be the case at all in such an exposed technology driven world.
[source]
I am not a Muslim scholar, or have the right to preach about any religion. All I know is that we are all raised a certain way. However, we all grow up to chose what is best for us. Some of us seem to lack faith, effected by media, or just read too much into a very simplistic religion. Why can’t people learn the basics of a religion? If everyone does that, no one would use religion in violent manners, to oppress others, or to manipulate other’s thoughts.
Also, what’s up with Muslims that say they are Muslims, but don’t follow the religion at all? What does it matter what others think of you religiously, if you don’t follow it or care enough to learn about it?
NOTE! Please, if you want to reply to this post, avoid talking about science, evolution, or the story of Adam & Eve. I don’t have time for never ending debates, and stick to the point of this article. Muslims that turned Atheists, or people who lack faith in their religion. Thank you.
Why are Muslims turning Atheists?,
Profoundly interesting read, I do enjoy reading your blog when I have the chance. Interesting, I’m actually an Atheist myself after having been a Christian. At my local Church the subject is regularly raised about how Islam is growing much larger than Christianity in this country. Notably among young girls apparently, although I have not looked at this evidence myself.
I think one’s belief should be respected as long as it doesn’t infringe upon another’s freedom. I sort of agree with you saying that people should learn the basics of religion. We have to keep in mind that whilst you and I may have inquiring minds, some other do not. Many live a life of pure hedonism and the only ‘deep’ conversations occur in pubs.
With regards to Muslims not following the religion at all, happens in all religious circles. Sometimes I wonder just how religious some people are. It is of course irrational to think that just because a person is a Muslim or a Christian that they should act in a certain way. It can be very easy to stereotype an individual attached to a belief. Seems to happen within politics all the time!
Anyway, hope you don’t mind this superfluous post. Good article.
@Michael White
No I didn’t mind your view point at all. I like reading about a world view of the subject matter, and seeing the same trend in other religion and reasons why. We all learn this way, right?
I’ve recently started reading more about Islam, watching lectures and stuff like that, and it made my faith stronger rather than the opposite. I guess it depends on the person and whether they are reading with a preconceived prejudice or not (atleast that’s my opinion xD)
@Mona
Definitely, in the digital age we live in we have no excuse to not learn when information is always a couple of clicks away.
I live in Canada and have always been an atheist. I don’t believe in any god(s) or supernatural beings. Let’s face it I am 75 years old and have never seen any reason to believe in the above anomalies. I believe that I am responsible for my own destiny not some mythical god.
From what I’ve read about the Muslim religion I can see why logical thinking people would not want to be involved. My first clue was that why would anyone want to be so involved that they have to bow down on all fours 5 times a day to a god that they have never seen or actually heard from. Some sects require that young people blow themselves up for one reason or another. If a religion requires such “submission”, this god must be rather unstable in his thinking.
I’ve read a lot of the Koran and am astounded how women are treated. They are believed to be only valued as half that of a man. Women through out the
Muslim world are being treated like dirt. If I was a woman I would revolt at having to wear a bhurka especially in the heat of the middle eastern countries. A woman in Indonesia is awaiting a whipping because she drank a beer. In some countries Muslim women have clitorises cut off so they can’t enjoy any sexual act. Recently Muslim men are starving their wives if they are denied sex. Humanity demands that humans be treated equally but NOT SO
in Islam. The Taliban don’t want women to be educated. If a woman is raped she requires four witnesses to prove her case against her assailant. This religion is totally for men and women can just do as they are told all of the time or they are whipped or even killed for no reason at all.
You asked why some Muslims are losing their faith? I don’t know why there is even a faith such as that. It seems absurd to me.
In some parts of the Koran an infidel should be killed for his views. If this way of life satisfies you,then so be it.
I’ve noticed this trend too. I’ve known a few muslims who don’t completely follow their faith, and I know one who is now an agnostic. The media does have a lot to do with it, some exploit the negative things of what some muslims do in the name of Allah and many people get turned away from it, other times people are affected by the decadence they are exposed to in the media and find some of it desirable.
Also there is something in what you said in the first paragraph “You would think, that out of all the religions, a conservative one such as Islam, you would not have such a lack of faith” that is also part of the problem. Some living in conservative and restrictive areas most of their lives who suddenly leave these areas and sees the way others live, abandon some of the practices that they grew up with. How many Muslim women have you heard about who come to a western country stop wearing hijabs and start wearing shorts?
@Aspentroll
You read an English translation of the Quran? Obviously, half of it is translated wrong. Even Arabs themselves who speak and perfect Arabic, cannot explain many parts of the text. I am not going to argue with the way you perceive Islam. However, don’t think it is bad. Look in the past what Christians used to do with women, and look what Jews do too. Several people throughout history have interpreted the religion wrong, and do wrong things. You think the negative things you mentioned about Islam and women is what a true Muslim does?
Look at me for example? I am not oppressed. I am a woman, educated, I don’t wear a scarf because I was not forced to, and don’t want to. Also, I am outspoken and I don’t care.
There is as much bad as good in the world. Don’t let the negative out weigh the positives.
Personally I used to call myself a Christian, but the church could never really convince me. I just hungered for more scientific knowledge, and bit by bit, i could explain God away, until he was no longer necessary. In a final attemt to remain religious, i read the Bible, the Qur’aan, the Bhagavad Gita and some smaller works of religion. I found no deeper truths in them. The final push towards atheism was a book called “The god delusion” by Richard Dawkins. Still i dont hate my former religion, and on occasion i come along with my family to church at christmas.
I know a guy from Saudi Arabia that turned Christian, and some others who became atheists. The reason for this is that religion is extremely tyrannical in that country. And religion there is intertwined with the extremely corrupt government, which makes people cynical.
In the west people are exposed to different ideas and they are not killed when they change or abandon their religion (most of the time, anyway)
Add up to this fact the reality of the failure of muslim countries againt the succes of christian or atheistic countries. The worlds safest, richest and most educated countries are mostly atheistic. (Japan, Western Europe).
@maarten
Well, Saudi Arabia is a different case, and I understand why so many people act rebellious the moment they leave that country. I also agree that the government has a lot to do with it. Oh the never ending stories..
I have found more people are heading the way of being a spiritualist – they believe in a god but aren’t willing to put for the effort required to submit to the will of God. I have been this way for the last 10 years and only recently started to put time into figuring this stuff out. I know someone’s education plays a role as people tend to turn atheist when they have more education. And, perhaps the Western world’s ignorance with Islam makes it harder and people just stop trying to believe because it’s so much easier?
@comments about the qur’aan
Actually im now learning Qur’anic arabic. Its true that of large parts of the Qur’aan the meaning is very uncertain. Qur’anic arabic however has some beauty in it. I noticed also that there is internal contradiction. In some verses the consumption of wine is allowed, in other verses it is forbidden. The explanation of this seems to be that later verses cancel out previous ones, but how it can be that god changes his mind is up of the religious to decide.
I’ve heard a large discussion about the ‘verse of the sword’ but in the end its again for the religious to decide how to interpret it. I as an atheist cant say: “this is how REAL islam is”
About the headscarfs: the Qur’aan states women should not expose their ‘Zina’ which could mean jewelery or beautiful parts or something like that. Again, its for the religious to interpret.
A book about people who left islam. I doubt you would want to read it
(i guess its a very depressing read), but just so you know.
http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Islam-Apostates-Speak-Out/dp/1591020689
I haven’t read it myself.
@maarten
I am not going to read it. I wrote this post to understand why those Muslims are leaving it and trying to come up with my own interpretations. So far, none of them have fessed up or came up with their own two-cents about the matter. Still waiting!
I guess you could learn something by analogy from Christian deconversions, however the circumstances are different then.
[...] religion. All I know is that we are all raised a certain way. … Here is the original post: Why are Muslims turning Atheists? | Rebellious Arab Girl Share and [...]
Simply because Islam, just like every other religion, is outdated and has become the equivalent of a useless obsolete technology. Give it up, move on, and stop worrying about your afterlife.
And why on earth do you call your self rebellious arab girl? where is the rebellion in what you say?
For some reasons they are turned athiest:
1- They want to drink and have sex with no obligations what so ever, so whene any one say to them you are a muslim and doing this he would say i am an atheist.
2- No right implementation of Sharia Laws in any muslim countries and even in KSA or Iran( KSA apply it on some people while the higher up do whatever they want and same is Iran). if Islam was folowed as it came to the prophet peace be upon him and how the appostles followe it then there numbers would be less or even they won’t dare to talk about leaving Islam after all in islam conversions from it has a hard punishment wgich you are to be givin three days of redemption if you won’t return to islam then he is to be killed but if he returned and didn’t practice then he isn’t killed.
3- They see west countries as more improvmed, developed countries and they look at muslim countries how they are now and they blame islam for it even though islam has nothing to do with that.
4- Sex, wine again, this i concluded after reading many athiest blogs all the crap they talk about comes to women and nudity.
and sorry if my comment is too long
Hi Mona. I am muslim and I still have my faith. Personally I have no intention of leaving it behind – I feel that is because it is how I’ve been brought up. I was brought up with religon knitted into my life not forced into my life so I am able to value it greatly as I have a positive view on it. However I feel that if a person is forced any value onto them, it will not hold any meaning to them so it can be easily disposed off. I’m sure there are plenty of reasons, soorry I can’t really help you.
@Majd
Do I have to say negative things about my religion to be rebellious?
Hey Mona, interesting post as usual ;D
I started investigating about Islam and whether its truly the words of God for personal reasons, not because I was affected by the media or anything like that. All true Muslims know that there is absolutely nothing in the Quran that promotes violence.
Here is a video by a great Muslim Scholar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8NdCwEeSmk&feature=related
I truly believe Islam is the most peaceful religion out there. Only those who don’t know enough about Islam and cant have an intellectual debate to prove how Islam is being manipulated or to explain the political reasons why some might abuse the religion tend to claim they are not Muslims or ashamed of the Islamic belief, now those are pathetic ignorants for sure.
However, I was always suspicious regarding my religion. I was born into a Arabian Muslim family. In Jordan religion is quite a personal issue, nobody pushes it in your face whether in schools or by ordinary people. My mom is quite religious; however my father doesn’t even know how to pray. So I have experienced both sides of it.
No one can deny that there is allot of wisdom and gd morals in Islam, and i’m thankful that i was brought up in a community with high respect and values, yet you cant deny that they were also the same values that Arabs had before Islam, so today in the arab world both Muslims and Christians hold such qualities. I have always been confused with islam, growing up i had allot of un-answered questions, i’m sick of ignoring all the contradictions and errors. One of the main things that me made believe in Islam weren’t those morals/values presented in the Quran, but the so called-scientific evidence, because supposedly it is the most strongest and final evidence.
Muslim scholars claim that one of the most propounding evidence that proves that the Quran is the words of God are the bunch of scientific evidence presented in the Quran, which was proven to be correct in the centuries to follow. Yet today there are allot of scholars who were able to prove these so-called facts wrong. Also many studies have examined how Muslim scholars today try to manipulate the arabic language, where the meanings of the words were twisted to match what was found in science, and words were given new definitions.
If the Quran was truly the words of God there should be NO contradictions or errors what so ever, research about it. There are many outstanding scientific and historic errors in the Quran. One of the most alarming evidence found are the verses regarding embryology, which are exactly the same as the ones written by Greeks scientists and another 2 sources, what does that indicates? There also a verse that states first bones are formed then its covered with flesh, this is an obvious error, bones are formed in the 16th week!!
Yet some smart muslim doctors like Dr. Zakir Naik (Doctor in medicine&islam) have tried to prove those scientific evidence correct. However, many agree that he was deceiving and not truly convincing; since it only made sense only to muslims since he used the Quran as a source of evidence, rather than addressing the whole audience. His answers were only appealing to Muslims who originally support him, they dont look at the debate critically but rather biasly.
The reason why I focus on these evidence in the Quran known as scientific miracles is simply because we live in a different world today, sometimes we need more than blind faith, actually we are programmed to accept only proven facts not theories, we are also programmed to think critically regarding any topic given. Therefore, obviously there is no place for religion which is very much like an unproved theory. So if someone was able to prove and explain these scientific miracles to me logically, then with no doubt I’ll believe in Islam. This is have nothing to do with evolution or “scientific theories”, its simple knowledge known today as scientific Facts ..which is considered the foundation of our life!
Here is only a couple of links that points out certain scientific errors. I have seen these points repeatedly in many websites, also being discussed in debates regarding Islam.
1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQg6x-K82IA
2) http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/SKM/contradictions.htm
@Maria
Wow.. lots of interesting points you got there.
Hmmm.. What does everyone else think?
Furthermore, you cannot deny that there is clear oppression of women in Islam, there is no equality!! Today in a civilized society, how can anybody find this acceptable? There are many things that are outdated , and that simply does not fit our lifestyle, it simply acts as a barrier towards modernization and open-mindness. If Islam was truly the true religion, it should make sense to all generations, not only for the people at the time of Islam. With NO doubt Islam have brough prosperity to arabs, but what about now? They are using the same book, following the same teachings!!
Moreover, if Islam is the right way how come muslims are the most backward uneducated ppl today?? Allot of Muslims refer back to the great scholars during the “Golden Ageâ€, but it has nothing to do with the religion, they didnt use it as a source, it was simply a tool.
Soo what made this age so unique? Why did sciences and arts boomed at this age suddenly? Simply because that region of the world was divided, a tribal system ruled the region. So beside the difficult lifestyle in the Deseret, they also had to defend themselves against raids and being taken as slaves by other emperors and kingdoms. They had allot of burdens and issues to deal with. However, the Islamic rule ended the tribal system and united the land under one government. One of the obvious advantages is the multiple and abundant resources of the land they ruled that extended from north Africa to the middle east was now available to serve the whole nation rather a precise one or two tribes/kingdoms . Also for the first time those people had real extended peace, they did not have to worry about their old lifestyle burdens, and thus they were able to be productive and use their talents, creativity and time to modify their lifestyle
When you ask any Muslim to provide one example throughout the last 1400 yrs in which Islam had an influence on its believers, they’ll immediately mention the “Golden Ageâ€â€, period. Nothing else!
What have Muslims done so far? Name me muslims who were able to succeed in their country and environment?? Just a handfulf in a Billion!! That’s the harsh reality!!
Look at Muslims today, we are all a 3rd world countries with enslaved goverments, we all are highly dependent on aid from western countries, who control us like puppets. Moreover, we have the highest rate of unemployment and poverty, lack of infrastructure and education. We dont fund science or any research that can help humanity and the Muslim community to stand up in this world, instead we are consuming our time with some backward cultural attitudes. In my country (Jordan), the majority of the people who act all religious, are the uneducated individuals or those leaders who brainwash them to remain backward. Furthermore, many are arrogant with some backward mentality and they refuse to open up or learn. They are huge burden and obstacle in our way of making a better life and a better economy in the muslim or Arabic world to change this phase that we are in since centuries. I really cant find one occasion where Islam really had a great influence on its belivers.
Moreover, if we happen to be following the one and only correct book, then why is the Muslim world the region with the highest rate of violence, from wars in Iraq and Palestine, to those violent groups fighting for power in several Muslim countries?? How many muslims have died just THIS year compared to other religions??? We are all living in a war zone, its like a volcano waiting to erupt, we know something will happen sooner or later, there is no peace what so ever!! Your own people are living this life, and it all roots back to religion, when we will have the courage to question it??
In addition, do u know the number of people who have left Islam, or the number of people who remain muslim by name so not to stir troubles in among their family?? Isnt that an indication that msulims who have lived in this religion their whole life, and know all the rules better than anyone else, yet they cant accept it.
I am not attacking Islam, but i am sick of ignoring all those errors and contradictions. You have to look at the whole package before you judge, i have always looked at the good parts, and did all what can i do: from praying, fasting to zaka..etc, but these evidence that proves the Quran wrong are overwhelming, many of the teachings themselves are outdated. Soo i’m torn apart right now, i cant find any explanation that makes sense regarding to Islam.
I still feel very uncomfortable regarding my decision to be agnostic. Actually im fasting right now, I don’t know why, but I just don’t want to draw any conclusion before I read enough books and consider enough sources from all sides of this debate.
P.S: Check out this debate between Muslim and Christian scholars. Basically each side presented a list of errors and contradictions of their opponent’s religion. If you watch fully, you can see that they have both proved the other religion wrong without addressing the validity of their own.
Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpZ9BhXWNis&NR=1
@Mona
I just posted the second part, enjoy
@Mona
Being open minded does not equal rebellion. There is a vast difference between the two.
Maria:
Allah yahdeeke, now what does it have that we are backward or third world with Islam, it’s our own who abused reliogion in the name of doing what they want to do in every arabic country, they used religion as a tool for our own personal goals and bend the laws of Islam to suite what we want and this is in every arab country. it doesn’t means that islam is bad if some one is twisting it’s great laws to suite him and his group.
“There are many things that are outdated , and that simply does not fit our lifestyle” what does Islam have to do with that, Islam has laws for muslims defining their way of life and what to do and what not to do, and what life style you are talking about, coffe shops life , books@cafe life or living life just to spend money and have sex or by life style you mean the west life style which Seculars wants people to follow and drop their religion because it doesn’t suite the united states and Europe.
“then why is the Muslim world the region with the highest rate of violence, from wars in Iraq and Palestine, to those violent groups fighting for power in several Muslim countries??” again what does this have to do with Religion , These groups don’t represent Islam in any way, all what they want is power, and by the way if you know the principal of divide and conqur then you will fully understand why there are so many wars in our muslims countries, it was the prinicpal that made so many sects in Islam and the principal that caused them to fight each other.
btw what you called scientific errors you can look for their answers from scholars like : Taqriq swedan and others
may allah help you in finding the answers you want and give you the peace of mind
Omar Bin Al-Katab when he tooks they keys to Alquds afer fighting the Rome he said “Ù†ØÙ† قوم اعزنا الله بالاسلام Ùمتى ما ابتغينا العزة بغيره اذلنا” which with Islam we became great nad the day we decided to not to follow it and follow others we will face the humilation we are living now, The golden age you are talknig about happened only becauase muslims commeted to their relegion in it’s full meaning and it won’t happen again unless we commit to it again
sorry for some of the mistakes in the words, i wrote to fast and didn’t check my errors
@Majd
Ahh ok.. whatever you think.
@Maria
I am in no way a scholar of Islam, since I am currently learning about it with great awe. However, can you blame a faith or a God for the wrongs of man when they are faced with choices? Man will always be a corruptible being and will try to find reason within his own faith to control, have power over his own fellow man. Just because someone who is Muslim oppresses the women he has power over, does not mean he is following the word of Allah as it was intended and therefore his actions cannot be reflective of what the faith really stands for.
In addition, the middle east has been deeply controlled by outside forces and I would wager a bet if the outside forces stopped meddling in the affairs of these countries, the oppressive nature of the regimes would slowly vanish. I put more blame on the US for the events in Iran, Iraq & in Israel and the countries around than I put blame at their own countries. The Western world feels it is their right to protect, control or overthrow their “investments” without taking into account the rights of the people.
@Ahmad
Oh really, so u’re okay with oppression of women, marrying 4, stonning and whipping women..etc.. You got half of the workforce paralyzed. Back then women were poisoned in their own homes, their education was motherhood and house work… Clearly Islam came to serve men’s mentality. Those stuff are outdated NOT because it doesn’t match the lifestyles of other nations, its simply illogical. People arrive at such conclusions not by comparing ourselves to other societies, but rather by comparing these teachings to our very humanity and values, also with taking into consideration the progress in our way of thinking and our perspective of our societies and the role of every individual in it whether a man or a female. Our lifestyle today is way advanced and modernized, its stupid to look back. Yes should take the good morals and stories as an example, but that doesn’t mean that we should continue to apply it foolishly.
I Am Arabian, I respect the Muslim values. If somewhere along the road I decided to become agnostic as a final decision, that absolutely doesn’t mean that I’ll start drinking and goin wild and disrespect myself. Its sad how people think that’s why muslims question their own religion. Yes, there are those who use it as an excuse to engage in inappropriate activities, but the majority simply question the validity of the Quran and the hadiths. Its normal to question what you believe in, you cant simply accept things blindly. If I’m gonna believe in anything, I need my facts straight!!
If you bothered to read my comments can you please point out were exactly did I portrayed the western lifestyle as an example of modernization. Re-read what I wrote in my first comments I was addressing the so-called scientific miracles in the Quran. Check out the links I provided, it has a list of scientific, historic and even mathematical errors in the Quran. Why cant Muslim Scholars have an intellectual debate to debunk all those accusations once and for all?? The main reason why I question Islam is because of the invalidity of those so-called scientific evidence. Do you know Saudi once PAYED a scientist named Moore to say that those scientific miracles were correct. Yet All muslims gladly pointed out his work, until he was busted !!
I’m tired of people who create arguments for the sake of an argument. You want to prove me wrong, then prove Islam right. I didn’t decide to question Islam just over night, I have spent almost a month reading and researching, and I cant find anything that makes me feel good about Islam…..If we were the true believers can you mention just ONE damn occasion in our damn history in which Islam have benefited its believers as a population or a group? All what Muslims can mention is the Golden age or the time of the Caliphs! Ironically that’s what you have just did! You further proved my point. I am taking about today!! All religions have good morals in them that doesn’t make it true or the words of God. Take Ghandi for an example he was great man of his time, should there be ghandinism religion.
“What does that have to do with Islam?â€
Is that a way for God to treat his true believers, please don’t tell me all Muslims fall for those who twist this religion. Only in areas where there are political struggles and wars, where such corruptions spread. Let me assure here in JO, wether people belived in Islam or not, they ALL know more than just the basics of Islam. There are tons of true committed Muslim believers, how did Islam served them? If Islam was the true relgion WHY I cant see any signs, its stupid to claim that we’ve ALL been messing up and unfaithful since that old age.
Define “Backwardnessâ€â€ ?? then point out one country/nation (of course after the golden age) that doesn’t fit in this category.
“Those doesnt represnt Islam in any way”"
ahem ahem u why dont read the 1st paragraph i wrote, i clrealy said that those people have nothing to do with Islam, i even provided a link.
If we were following the true relgion, why does god allow such injustice and barbaism to take place not for decades but almost a century?????
Oh then I’ll check Tariq swedan’s work.
Eh “â€Allah yehdniâ€â€ eza jad Islam was the true religion.
I haven’t gave up YET!
@Moonstar Silverwolf
You got a gd point. I have pointed this out, regarding muslim countries being enalaved and controled.
However, I am not juding Islam based on the actions of few men. I am questioning the validity of the Quran and ahdiths, which is the foundation of the muslim belief. Also the lifestyle and circumstances of its believers.
I have stated facts, I’m not blaming anyone.. Anyways, how come the WHOLE muslim population is collectively punished for the actions of the few corrupted, since 500 years till today!!! Now that’s ridicules.
Islam is indeed the most strongest, peaceful and logical religion out there if we put the equality issue aside. However, that doesn’t make it truthful!! I cant find any signs in our history that proves the influence of Islam. Also i cannot ignore all the errors and contradictions in the Quran.
Its like reading any book, if you come across a statment that is not true or abusrd, you simply dismiss the whole book. You cant just pick and choose what matches ur own perspective.
In short:
Atheists think muslims leave islam because it is false, cruel and outdated
Muslims think people become atheist because they want to have free sex, beer and ham. (you can wake me in the middle of the night for ham any day)
I’ve heard the pro/contra islam arguments all before, none of them are really interesting or convincing for the other side.
Maria:
“Oh really, so u’re okay with oppression of women, marrying 4, stonning and whipping women..etc.. You got half of the workforce paralyzed” what does this have to do with the subject and Islam in no means has disrepected woman but i won’t go in discuss with that subject, there are better people than me who can answer questions related to that for you.
“If you bothered to read my comments can you please point out were exactly did I portrayed the western lifestyle as an example of modernization” Because this is the life style we are living right now, The t.v, celebrities, singers, films, partying life style that we are living now that is why i mentioned it.
“All what Muslims can mention is the Golden age or the time of the Caliphs! Ironically that’s what you have just did” because it truly was the only times that muslim societies has been so great and strong and yes i can’t give you another time because there isn’t all what was in it was fight for power and not respecting the laws of Islam.
“There are tons of true committed Muslim believers, how did Islam served them” so what if i am a muslim then i have to have money, car, peace, house, and all of the good package. Life doesn’t go all the way we want even in the golden ages there were trouble, there were poor people, sick people .The propeht peace be upon him who is considered the greatest man for all muslims didn’t too get everything in life which every human has a wish to have. Islam is a religion that wants muslims to prepare for the other life more than this life that we are living now(وَالآخÙرَة٠خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى)
“If we were following the true relegion, why does god allow such injustice and barbaism to take place not for decades but almost a century?????” some would say it’s god punishment to us for what muslim countries have been doing for ages from not applying Sharia Laws and other sins that has been done in the past centuries which actually has nothing in them but in justice. I would sya May be god is testing us to see who still accepts Islam as the true religion and choose the other life or who wants the Donya. aftar all in the hadith it’s said “بدأ هذا الدين غريبا وسيعود غريبا Ùطوبى للغرباء”
My dear am not a scholar and am far away from being one, all i can say to you you can keep reading and not just read from english sources or non muslim sources, and again allah yehdeeke
I went to those websites that maria posted. I think they are taking the verses of the Quran out of context. But I am no scholar.
By the way, somites (the part of the mesoderm that forms bone) are established by week 3. The single layer of ectoderm for skin forms by week 4. Just saying.
Oh by the way. Please spare my eyes! Summarize!
@Maria
I will say, from the readings I have done, women have more equality in Islam than any other religion before it. Any man who feels it is their duty to oppress his wife is truly not understanding his faith. I think one of the beautiful parts about Islam is just how free women are and only our society has failed to recognize it. I’ve been reading Mona’s blog for some time and I know there are those within the faith that have a problem with how Mona is, but in the end, your relationship with God is your own not your husbands.
“I wrote this post to understand why those Muslims are leaving it and trying to come up with my own interpretations. So far, none of them have fessed up or came up with their own two-cents about the matter. Still waiting!” -Mona
I’m still a muslim, but if you want I’ll try and explain why I sometimes doubt my faith and wish I was born someone else. I think I can speak on behalf of a group of people if you wish to divide them into groups.
Mostly it is based on what I see others doing that makes me question the divinty of my faith/religion. I’ve lived in Canada since I was a baby (originally palestinian born in Jordan) and I hit puberty around sept. 11 (lol) when there was this anti-islam hysteria and the world seemed to be bombing the crap outta Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan. This had the opposite effect on me that one would expect because it made me want to know more and kinda inspired me as a muslim (not that I supported terrorism lol). It made me an idealist . But as I got older and stared to see my close friends that I grew up with go to parties and get drunk and screw around, friends that I looked up to in some ways it hurt my faith. Also, the more I visited Jordan in the summer and saw how literally backwards people there were (I saw sooo much there) and how in the middle-east of all places people didn’t share my idealistic view and were so intellectually dumb I began to question whether the people at the time of the prophet that we learn so much about were actually the way we read about them. That coupled with the fact that I took 6 months off after high-school to live in the UAE and everyone there was so fake that I wanted to punch their lights out.
That and also what marteen said about “saudi arabia And religion there is intertwined with the extremely corrupt government, which makes people cynical.”
And when I tried describing these things to my parents or elders they have no real idea of what I’m talking about but pretend like they do which makes me think that they’re dumb in some respects!
It was like you described it: “Also, more and more Muslims are reading too much into their religion, and see how others are slowly destroying the image of it.”
It doesn’t make me feel good to feel this way, it does bother me b/c sometimes I just think to hell with it, and the only way to justify my actions is to deny there is a god (something I can’t bring myself to do and really dont want to do).
I hope that helps.
I want you to know that I am a proud muslim and kinda feel guilty about what I wrote but I wrote it for the purpose of education.
[...] link is being shared on Twitter right now. @rebelliousgirl, an influential author, said RT [...]
aahhhh……i don’t think soo…..Muslim’s have this firm belief in God….can be atheists…..they have this conviction, strong faith…..yea…the new generation isn’t into God and all….but that’s in every religion ……you’ll find this kinda of ppl in us Hindu or Christians…too
I think only Muslim’s and Sikh’s have such strong believe in God…which isn’t that easy to break………..
Also, as you said where they grow or live affects their believe….yea it happens…..what i have around me….in India……Muslim’s are becoming more Muslim’s…..as my elders say…..Muslim’s didn’t used to wear..Burkah’s or grow beard’s in yesteryear’s but now they do……as strongly as other are trying to suppress them…..they are coming out more strongly…..yea the violence isn’t good………but violence have no religion….those people have one motto to kill people and rule ….nothing related to religion…….
woo hoo……….\,,,/
I blame the parents who fail to educate their children. Rather than teaching them about the values of Islam, they force the values and deeds onto the poor kids. The kids never truly acccept Islam, but rather perform what is forced upon them in fear of their parents. But once they’re out of the parents’ clutch, they feel free to do whatever they want. They condemn their faith and move on. Most becoming athiests as it seems like the easy way out. To go into another religion simply seems like a tedious task to those who don’t believe in God and etcetera.
@ Maria “Also i cannot ignore all the errors and contradictions in the Quran.”
There are no errors and contradictions. One who sees so has certainly missed out on reading the commentaries. I’d suggest you grab the closest tafseer book and understand the Qur’an instead of stating something out of sheer ignorance.
What kind of rubbish is that?? You blame the parents, if you people cant handle the truth that’s your problem. If Islam was truthful there should be no doubts. Sincerity NEVER demands hypocrisy!!! This has nothing to do with the morals presented in Islam, I have stated over and over again that I do RESPECT it. Nevertheless That’s NOT enough!
Dude ,to me science is the most creditable source that can be used to prove the validity of anything. If NO one can interrupt the so-called scientific miracles in the Quran logically, then that’s final!!
I have graduated recently; I took the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is the most advanced high school program out there. Believe it or not, to me the hardest subject was Arabic – my own bloody language!! There are FIVE levels of Arabic language that can be chosen from; I opted for the highest level. Basically you don’t only learn to master the modern slandered Arabic but also the old standard Arabic, from literature to poetry and even the language of the Quran. My teacher was also a professor in one of the Jordanian university, she thought Arabic literature, and she used to give our essays and commentaries as an example to 2nd & 3rd year students specializing in the Arabic language. So to cut its short, I can confidently say I know my own language better than 90% of all Arabs. Furthermore, since I’m half Jordanian and half Moroccan I can speak and understand all dialects fluently form the west till the east of the Arab world. I’m proud to say I have mastered my language in all forms and shapes.
So back to the issues being disused, obviously I don’t think I fit in the category of those who cannot understand the language of the Quran or interrupt its meaning intellectually. When I started researching about the scientific miracles in the Quran, I used to check the English translations first to make sure its correct, I’m not a fool who falls for anyone who claims he/she’s an expert. I use my own knowledge and also the Arabic translation of the Quran.
What is more, I have studied the human embryology in depth, from all the specific details from fertilization up to birth. Now that’s proven science, its not a theory! What shocked me at the end was the claim of muslims that there is detailed description in the Quran regarding the human embryology stages. Sooo I decided to check it out, not out of lack of faith of course, I was just curious. Anyways, its supposed to make my faith stronger, correct ??
The verses were crystals clear, I wont state all whats written in the Quran compared to what was found in science. You can research for yourself. What is more, the description in the Quran matches the description of Greek documents on medicine, which was available way before Islam!! This is just one example. Check out the links I included earlier, you will notice that more than half of those verses are crystal clear … there is NO underlying meanings of it what so ever. You think those verses were brought out of cotext!! Fine,then point it out please, prove the correct transaltion, even muslim scholars were not able to prove it logicaly, there answers were ONLY appealing to muslims, to to anyone who’s addrresing the matter logicaly.
I have watched some debates of musilm scholars trying to explain the meanings of the verses, what they do is twist the meanings and even give NEW definitions to Arabic words. Like the word “â€Nutfaâ€â€, in all Arabic dictionaries its defined as a clot of blood , however now they added TWO new definitions to the word, soo when they explain the Quranic verses, it will match what is found in science. Isn’t that a bit deceiving? The Quran was written in a form similar to the old standard Arabic, the people back then understood it perfectly, and they did not find any difficulty to understand the meanings of the words or the verses. How come today words are given new definitions, based on what?? Plus those new definitions are only used to explain the verses in the Quran, it was never used in the old days nor today. That’s a FACT!
To the bottom line, I could be somehow wrong; I am open to any scholars who can explain those verses logically and intellectually. Sadly I cant find any=Fact!!
@mo
@The Ruling Numerator
@Ahmad
NOP, I have explained why science have boomed in this age earlier. Re-read it. The same interruption can be applied to many nations around the world that witnessed sudden prosperity. You cant ignore this fact! Islam created the right circumstances indeed but it wasn’t the source.
Do you know AL-Mutanabi â€(The Arabian Shakespeare), do you know what his nickname means? Mutanbi in Arabic means (the wanna-be prophet), because his fluency in the language and his poems were unique, some says his language difficulty ranks the 2nd after the Quran. So like he claimed he deserves to be a prophet for fluency of his words and intelligence, he was a funny man, don’t you agree?? lol,
This indicated that even back then people were aware that the reason why the Quran was highly recognized was for its language and wisdom, yet even some normal people were able to reach such wisdom and fluency!!
What, are you serious?? of course it has nothing to do with money and luxury. Why are you dismissing all of my points? Re-ad my 2nd post.
I am talking about simple things, like peace, education, modernization, living a goof life instead of extreme poverty and corruption, Is that too much to ask?? We’ve been occupied and enslaved for centuries, where is the influence of Islam. Is it possible that we are all being collectively punished for the actions of few since centuries. According to many studies, Muslims are the most people who KNOW and UNDERSTAND their religion, there is allot of devoted and committed Muslims around the globe. They’ve been praying for centuries, yet they still live the same life and suffer from the same circumstances. You are seeing you own people living the same life over and over again, yet we stand their doing nothing, just saying it’s the wrath of God, or oh well, they have failed in understanding their religion. That’s ridicules.
“â€What this has to do with the subject of Islamâ€â€
Duh, what those people have in common? Religion!!
When you try to analyze the circumstances of a certain group of people, you have to address the root of this problem and what they have in common. The issue of being over productive and controlling women is not a cultural attitude bur rather religious. The same attitudes were applied since the old days till today, people didn’t became corrupted along the way. Plus where are all imams and shikis, why are they not trying to combat these sick attitudes, why are they not educating the masses? All what they do is issuing usless Fatwa’s every now and then. Where is the influence of good muslims?? I cant find any!!!
There is a hadith by the prophet (pbup), in which he says he have never seen anybody with such extreme deficiency in intelligence such as women!! I will look for it now, and post it, nobody was able to disapprove this hadith!
My wife is born as Muslim, I am born as Christian, and religion was, is and never will be a problem between us. Why? Since we consider spirituality more important.
Although she told me some months ago that she dont consider herself as a Muslim she will never convert to Christianity, which is the right decision.
Why many people leave Islam? I think because the many rules and sometimes absurd regulations. You can ask your self what Islam is doing to societies where Muslim is the main religion…and then you will see that THAT is not good.
The person here who mentioned here that Islam is the most ‘peaceful’ religion simple doesnt know anything about Buddhism, Taism, Hindoism etc.
Only Islam and Christianity know the phenomen ‘missionairity’, spreading the religion.
The Muslims I know who left Islam did that because or they were gay, or they could not practize their scientifical work, were women who were sick and tired of being submitted to Men’s whishes, or simple missed the sprirituality in Islam.
I travelled all around the world, but the Middle East is for me a non-go area. Why? The impact of religion on personal daily life.
kindest
@Adam
Ah, come on, anybody can prove that those radicals have nothing to do with Islam. Its not rocket science !!
The violence committed in the name of Islam is obvious, because of the focus of the media to criminalize those people to justify future wars in the region. However many violence are HIDDEN and fabricated committed by the western countries under a state, were they created excuse for wars and fake terror & enemies, simply because they have the technology to hide it & fake it, and media to cover it. Actually they are far more shocking and disgusting. Like the gulf war, current iraqs war, afghanistan, vietnam, japan, UUS liberty attack, lavon affair, 9/11, Mumbai bobming,,etc
Google the website (What really happened), then read what written under (9/11) and (fake terrors), you’ll have you answers. Arabs were obviously framed !!
Those ppl who engage in terrorist acts are extremely poor uneducated young individuals. However, this has to do with POWER struggle & corruptness. The leader’s sole aim is to control the country and its resources for materialistic reasons. They brainwash those young ppl to believe they are doing it for a gd cause, they join for a sense of belonging, for money,food, and to enjoy luxurious life they never even dreamt of. There education is weapons rather than books.
The power struggle in these countries is not any different from the American civil war. It has nothing to do with religion, but rather a group of the same people trying to force their ideas & principles on the rest of the country.
Think about it, when u got one population who share similar language, culture, history..etc, and then few wanna be leaders are competing for one position, how can they get more ppl on their side the fastest & easiest way, of course not by promises or speeches!!
After all both sides will be saying the exact SAME thing regarding anything that concerns the ppl. So how will they grantee that they will receive the vote or the support of the ppl. They use things that are powerful to create division among the ppl, like religion, which history proves to be the strongest tool of propaganda.
For instance, a country like Iraq, that have various religious sectors & different ethnic groups, the leaders abused this fact, so they all did things that benefit their own ppl rather than the whole country to grantee votes and ultimate support. when saddam came to power, who do u think he appointed to be his helpers and army? 99% were sunni like saddam, and he was racist among other groups, he made his own to feel more powerful and superior than others and gave them more benefits & privileges thats how he grantees that they will always be devoted and will protect his back no matter if he was right or wrong. In fact iraqi sunni till today glorify saddam.
Remember the crusades committed by Christians centuries ago, zionists claiming jews are the chosen ppl thus they have the right to occupy Palestine..etc, similarly they all make it sound like its a holy war and they demand all those who stand in their way should be killed, now u should also consider how they motivate the ppl & give them a powerful sense of belonging to such magnificent group that they make it sound like its the one and only righteous group and the rest are the enemy, motivated by that they become blinded from the truth even when they r committing a catastrophe. U see this spirit and support that they give to one side against the other is dangerous, its purely propaganda and anyone can fall for it in the right circumstances
As you can see allot of violence happen by islamists in non-arabic country. Taking into consideration both the poverty and the poor education in this area, anybody who comes to them in the image of an educated man who does not only know arabic but also the level of the Quran is highly respected. This gives them the oppurnity to preach whatever they want and convince youngsters to join. Typical religious propaganda, similar to the Christian crusades where they took verses from the bible to justify their crimes.
There is a verse in the Quran, that says killing an innocent man is like killing all humanity, whereas saving one innocent many is like saving the entire mankind. There is another one that says: Only fight those who attacks you in the battlefield, don’t harm women, children and the elderly or their houses, belongings & religious items (books, symbols, churches, temples..etc). If the soldiers (fighting men) wanted peace escort them to a place of safety. These are only few, this shows that Islam is totally different from the islamwood the media portrays, If anyone puts enough effort to investiage.
â€the more I visited Jordan in the summer and saw how literally backwards people there were (I saw sooo much there) and how in the middle-east of all places people didn’t share my idealistic view and were so intellectually dumb I began to question whether the people at the time of the prophet that we learn so much about were actually the way we read about them. That coupled with the fact that I took 6 months off after high-school to live in the UAE and everyone there was so fake that I wanted to punch their lights out. “
I agree with you there. I am from Jordan, the dumb and backward people happen to be religious. When I say religious, I mean like they know Islam 100% and they constantly refer to hadiths and the Quran. Isnt it something to think about??
As for Dubai, I’ve been there for a week. Man, I wont live there if they gav me a billion. Everything is soo fake and phony, from the people to the city.Its fake beaty covering extrem corruprion. Beside, people should distinguish between arabs in general and Gulfies. The Gilfies are the rich ones, who waste their money on stupid materialistic stuff.
@Maria
I find what you say simply hilarious. You know why? Because of this: “You blame the parents, if you people cant handle the truth that’s your problem.”
What ‘truth’ are we talk about here, Maria? I fail to grasp the ‘truth’ that I can’t seem to handle.
… And then you went on to tell me your qualifications. Something I’m not remotely interested in. So a few degrees in Arabic qualifies you to interpret the Qur’an and pass your interpretation as the ultimate one? Your qualification surpasses the fuqahaa who hopped from person to person in search of the right Islamic knowledge?
Definitions evolve, am I not correct?
One thing I read from a member of a forum several days ago was this: the Qur’an is book of guidance, not one for people to deduce detailed scientific knowledge from.
And you, Maria, seem to have missed that. In fact, several people miss that fact. I don’t believe they use the Qur’an as a science text book anywhere, do they?
I have been reading the arguments back and forth all morning long. I have to agree with @The Ruling Numerator about the Quran not being a Science book. I never thought it was. It is a religious scripture, and people threw it out of proportion to try to solve science and understand science and contradict it using science.
I argued about this long time ago, although I believe in God, I also believe that God gave us an intellect beyond other creatures on this earth to understand what is around us. To try to come up with a reasoning behind the complexity of everything around us in order for us to have more faith that things just didn’t happen. There is a higher power! Science tried to explain many things, and still trying, but there will always be theories and hypothesis and un-answered questions. How far can human intelligence go? Where will it end? Is there an end?
@Maria
I dont think you got my point, it has nothing to do with terrorism. I was saying that sept. 11 inspired me to learn more about my faith at a time when i was questioning what was going on in the world.
The scientific way of thinking is with theories and hypothesis.
- We can never know everything. The heisenberg uncertainty principle shows that it is physically impossible to know everything. Nature forbids us.
- All science does is making models, approximations, of reality, and with these models we try to understand (and manipulate in our favour) nature.
- There is no 100% certainty of anything. Even if 6 billion people believe
something it can still be false (truth is not democratic)
- Some questions cannot be answered, because they cannot be tested. Things like ‘how many gods are there’ The fact that you believe without evidence that there is only one does not make it true. I could easily argue that there are two gods, and you would not be able to disprove my argument. But since i dont have evidence for two gods, disproving is unnecessary. The fact that science cant answer the question only shows that there is no answer. The answers to these unscientific questions are all just made up, and all without evidence.
Human intelligence is very limited. We can only understand things on our scale. Perhaps we could in the future create a computer mind which would understand much more than we do.
Newton; everything was measurable
Einstein; everything was relative
Bohn; everything is probably
This is obvious a trend in science why never things can be expla. with 100% certainity. In Islam science is submission to religion. Another reason why so many Muslims scientists left ıslam for what it is.
You cannot have a religious expl and a scientifical expl for what happens around you. This double agenda makes Muslims in secular countries vulnerable…and they left their religion not faith!
Kindest
hans