Atheism and Islam

A checked version of this page, approved on 23 February 2021, was based on this revision.

Atheism, defined as a philosophical view, is the position that rejects the existence of gods/God/Intelligent Designer/Creator/etc based on the evidence presented by believers. In the Islamic tradition, atheists are generally lumped together with all other disbelievers for the simple reason that they reject the 'Signs of Allah' and reject Prophet Muhammad's claim of being Allah's messenger. Modern scholars have concluded that atheism is the worst form of disbelief,^[1]^[2] and the vast majority of the world's Muslims^[3] believe that atheists are immoral.^[4]

In scripture

Quran

Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief. Or are the Treasures of thy Lord with them, or are they the managers (of affairs)? Or have they a ladder, by which they can (climb up to heaven and) listen (to its secrets)? Then let (such a) listener of theirs produce a manifest proof.

Quran 52:35-38

External Links

Iraqis Shocked as Atheism Creeps in

References

↑ Which crime is worse: atheism or polytheism? - Islam Web, Fatwa No. 104658, February 12, 2008
↑ Atheism is a greater sin than shirk - Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 113901
↑ Note that, according to Pew, unlike adherents of Christianity who are spread out among developed and undeveloped countries, only a tiny 3% of the world's Muslims live in "more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan". Meaning, even though this survey does not cover Muslims in America or the western part of Europe, overall it remains a very accurate representation of what the worldwide Muslim population believes (give or take 3% at the most). Indeed, Pew refer to it as a "worldwide survey" of Muslim attitudes. Ref: "The Future of the Global Muslim Population", The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, January 27, 2011 (archived), http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx.
↑ "The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society", Pew Research Center, April 30, 2013 (archived), http://www.pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/Muslim/worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-full-report.pdf.

[1] Which crime is worse: atheism or polytheism? - Islam Web, Fatwa No. 104658, February 12, 2008

[2] Atheism is a greater sin than shirk - Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 113901

[3] Note that, according to Pew, unlike adherents of Christianity who are spread out among developed and undeveloped countries, only a tiny 3% of the world's Muslims live in "more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan". Meaning, even though this survey does not cover Muslims in America or the western part of Europe, overall it remains a very accurate representation of what the worldwide Muslim population believes (give or take 3% at the most). Indeed, Pew refer to it as a "worldwide survey" of Muslim attitudes. Ref: "The Future of the Global Muslim Population", The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, January 27, 2011 (archived), http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx.

[4] "The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society", Pew Research Center, April 30, 2013 (archived), http://www.pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/Muslim/worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-full-report.pdf.

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