Moral Commitment beyond Belief in God: The Ultimate Test of Faith
By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam
03 Feb, 2025
Bertrand Russell once quipped, "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong." This statement assumes that believers are willing to die for their beliefs. However, this assumption misrepresents the nature of belief itself. A true believer is not called upon to die for abstract beliefs but for the moral causes they hold dear—causes they see as just and worthy of sacrifice. Their conviction is not based on rigid dogma but on a profound moral commitment that sustains them even in the face of doubt. Belief is better defined as belief in causes higher than oneself, rather than solely as belief in the existence of God. While belief in God may provide a pathway to such commitment, once that commitment becomes strong, it can endure even in the absence of faith in God.
In the Struggle for Justice, Faith May Waver, but Moral Conviction Remains
In the struggle for justice, believers may experience despair when divine intervention seems absent. In such moments, they might even question the existence of God. However, their commitment to moral principles remains unshaken. Their belief in God may fluctuate, but their dedication to what they perceive as right deepens over time. The real test of belief lies not in professions of faith but in whether one's moral compass remains steadfast, regardless of uncertainty about God's existence.
Belief and Moral Conviction
The choice to believe or disbelieve has little to do with definitive proof of God's existence. Most believers are not drawn to faith through philosophical arguments but through the beauty of a religion's moral vision. Many begin by embracing the ethical framework of their faith, with belief in God gradually emerging. For some, faith is a lifelong journey, fluctuating with experience, yet their love for moral principles deepens regardless.
Given a person's staunch support for moral causes, it is highly probable that they hold some belief in God. At the very least, they may be agnostic, but it is unlikely they are outright atheists or deniers of God. Moral conviction stems from an innate sense of justice—one that aligns, consciously or unconsciously, with the idea of a higher moral order. Even those who do not explicitly profess faith operate within a framework shaped by religious or quasi-religious ethical foundations.
Conversely, a disbeliever who actively denies God's existence is unlikely to adhere to moral rules as categorical imperatives—principles to be followed regardless of circumstance. Their rejection of God may stem from a broader rejection of rule-based morality itself. Such individuals are often cynical opportunists, treating morality as a social construct rather than a binding obligation. For them, moral behaviour is dictated by hypothetical imperatives—acting morally only to the extent that it serves their interests. When the cost of appearing moral outweighs the benefit, they have little incentive to adhere to moral principles. Those who profess belief in God but only follow hypothetical imperatives are hypocrites. The Quran describes such people as disbelievers despite their outward professions of faith. In the Quran's view, those who follow the moral code as closely as possible are the true believers, while the rest are disbelievers. The term the Quran uses for striving to follow the moral code as best as possible is "Taqwa."
Moral Heroes and the Legacy of Faith
Despite being agnostic or uncertain about God's existence, some individuals exhibit unwavering dedication to moral principles that mirror religious convictions. Figures like Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein illustrate this. After their life experiences led them to question belief in God, they never abandoned their commitment to moral principles. Their moral compass, shaped by their Jewish heritage, remained intact. Both have paid significant personal prices for the causes they champion, motivated not by religious obligation but by intrinsic commitment to justice.
This phenomenon suggests that what truly sustains moral conviction is not the certainty of divine reward but the intrinsic worth of the cause itself. Genuine moral commitment can survive and even thrive without faith in God, which is the ultimate test of such commitment.
Those whose moral dedication remains unwavering—despite fluctuating belief in God—have nothing to fear, regardless of God's existence. They are heroes in this world, and if there is an afterlife, they will be heroes there as well. Their struggle, sacrifices for justice, and steadfast adherence to moral principles set them apart as paragons of virtue, irrespective of theological certainty.
Islam: Deeds over Professions of Faith
Islam emphasizes deeds over mere professions of faith. The Quran repeatedly highlights that obedience, sincerity, and moral action are what truly matter. Without righteous deeds, verbal professions of belief hold little significance.
"Swear ye not; Obedience is (more) reasonable; verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do." (24:53)
In another instance, the Quran addresses new Muslims who hastily declared “Amanna” ("We believe"). They were admonished and told that faith had not yet entered their hearts. Instead, they were instructed to say only “Aslamna” ("We have submitted"), recognizing that true faith is more than a verbal declaration—it must be lived and practiced.
"The desert Arabs say, 'We believe.' Say: 'You do not (yet) believe; rather, say, ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle any of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (49:14)
This Quranic perspective reinforces that moral commitment transcends belief in God alone. Action, obedience, and a lived ethical code define a person's faith. Even if a believer experiences moments of doubt, their dedication to moral principles remains, akin to those who uphold ethical ideals despite letting go of traditional belief.
Conclusion
Genuine moral commitment transcends belief in God. Those who dedicate themselves to justice, sacrifice for righteousness, and uphold ethical principles—despite doubt or uncertainty—exemplify a faith that is deeper than mere words. Whether they retain belief in God or not, their actions testify to the highest virtues of humanity.
If God exists, they have nothing to fear. And even if He does not, they will still be remembered as heroes who stood for what is right, embodying the essence of faith—faith in justice, humanity, and the intrinsic value of moral truth. No believer in causes higher than self is likely to deny God's existence; they may be agnostic or doubtful, but even with doubt, they would wish for God to exist. God represents a concept or ideal that embodies all that is pure and beautiful, from which morality flows as an ideal to be pursued to purify oneself and become one with that ideal.
Acknowledgement: The article is built on the excellent comments by Rasheed Saheb on the subject.
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A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation.
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