Demonizing Critics of Islam and Atheists Will Only Make Matters Worse
By
Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
1 June 2024
Muslims
Who Have Turned into Atheists and Begun to Criticise Islam May Have Specific
Reasons, Such as Complaints, Doubts, Or Questions About the Religion. This Is
Particularly Relevant In Today's Era Of So-Called Jihadist Groups Causing
Violence And Trouble. Addressing These Issues Politely Is Crucial, As
Demonizing Them Will Only Make Matters Worse. Instead, It Is Essential to
Address Their Concerns and Address Their Issues in A Respectful Manner.
Main
Points
1. Richard
Dawkins, despite being an atheist, asserts Christianity's suitability for
Western culture.
2. Nehru,
despite being born a Hindu, acknowledged his ambiguity in identifying as a
Hindu.
3. Being an
atheist does not mean being disconnected from one's past culture or society.
4. Those who
criticize religion and religious customs should be viewed with compassion.
5. Critics of
Islam often have specific reasons, especially in the era of Jihadist violence.
Addressing these issues politely is crucial, as demonizing them will only cause
more problems.
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We had a
conversation a few days ago on Richard Dawkins, one of the so-called “four
horsemen” of the New Atheists and a longtime, ruthless opponent of
Christianity. The subject of discussion was his confessions to host Rachel
Johnson of LBCNews. The Oxford biologist and author of The God Delusion felt alarmed
upon noticing Islamic Ramadan lights on a street that had previously had Easter
lights. He said, “I call myself a cultural Christian. I’m not a believer, but
there’s a distinction between being a believing Christian and being a cultural
Christian. … I love hymns and Christmas carols, and I sort of feel at home in
the Christian ethos. … We [in the U.K.] are a “Christian country” in that
sense.” Dawkins then said to Johnson that he finds it "horrifying"
that mosques and Islamic celebrations are replacing Christian cathedrals and
feast days throughout Europe. He further said, “If I had to choose between
Christianity and Islam, I’d choose Christianity every single time. It seems to
me to be a fundamentally decent religion in a way that I think Islam is not.”
We can
disagree with Dawkins and present evidence to show that he is incorrect in his
assessment of Islam, so supporting our position in favour of Islam. It is
crucial to understand, though, that demonising him and other Islam critics is
neither appropriate nor consistent with Islamic teachings.
We must
understand the distinction between cultural identification and religious
conviction. While Dawkins and the majority of other Western atheists reject
Christianity as a religion, they fully support it over other faiths because
they see it as an integral aspect of the cultural identity of Western society.
Jawaharlal
Nehru, for instance, exemplifies this kind of dedication. Nehru expressed his
opinions on religion in a very public way. Nehru acknowledged that although he
was born a Hindu and spoke for the Hindu community, he was unsure of how far he
could go in identifying as a Hindu in his 1929 presidential address to the
Lahore Congress. According to some sources, he didn't believe in religion, a
personal God etc. It is true,
nevertheless, that he considered himself to be a part of the continuous legacy
of Hindu history and civilization, as noted in The Discovery of India.
Maulvi
Abdul Majid Dariyabadi is a well-known figure among Muslims who adopted the
appearance of atheism. In this sense, it's also worthwhile to observe the
emotions of his time that he detailed in his autobiography. Philosophers who
were referred to as atheists in ancient Greece also had a connection to and
dedication to their religious tradition. As a result, being an atheist does not
imply that one is completely disconnected from one's past or society. Someone
may have rejected their religious convictions but not their religious culture
because doing so might go against human nature.
An atheist
does not reject any religion by being only in a void or on an abstract plane.
In essence, he is at odds with a certain religious tradition within a specific
cultural tradition and seeks to support or validate his atheistic viewpoint
within that framework. Because of this, you will observe that those who
regularly spread atheism among Muslims in the modern era have essentially the
same attitude towards Islam, regardless of whether they are in America,
Britain, or Australia, even though Islam is not the predominant religion in any
of these countries. This is because people who identify as atheists find it
difficult or impossible to break apart from the historical and cultural
traditions that have shaped who they were and who they are. They want a voice and
to have an impact within the parameters of this tradition. Needless to say,
without a strong commitment to this legacy, this is not conceivable.
We so ask
that those who practise Islam view with compassion those who criticise religion
and religious customs, or who identify as atheists yet do not subscribe to any
particular religion but rather embrace cultural identity. Even though Dr Pervez
Hoodbhoy's or others' analysis differs from yours regarding the reasons behind
Muslims' scientific underachievement and the individuals accountable, their
concern is nonetheless important for the advancement of Muslim civilization.
Meet
ordinary youths and try to understand their perspective. You will discover that
their animosity towards religion stems from a grievance or the contradictions
between the religious worldview and the circumstances of our day. In a time of
cultural crisis, it is a normal human response. Demonising these youths, who
are our own people, is not a good move at all.
In
conclusion, if some Muslims have turned into atheists and begun to criticise
Islam, you should assume that they did so for specific, traceable reasons,
complaints, doubts, or questions about Islam. This is especially true in this
day and age when some so-called Jihadist groups are wreaking havoc in the name
of Islam. Therefore, you should address their issues and allay their concerns
in a very polite manner rather than taking the approach of demonising them. You
can never win by demonising them because it will only make them more irate.
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A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam
Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar), with a
Sufi-Sunni background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. He has also done B. A
(Hons.) in Arabic, M.A. in Arabic and M.A. in English from JMI, New Delhi. He
is interested in Islamic Sciences; Theology, Jurisprudence, Tafsir, Hadith and
Islamic mysticism (Tasawwuf).
URL:
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