Author: Mawlana Abdul Rahman Mu'tasimi
The Phenomenon of Atheism and Ways to Combat It (Part 19)
The Most Important Factors and Causes of the Spread of Atheism in Islamic Countries
First: Colonialism
As discussed in detail earlier, colonizers, through the occupation of Muslim lands and the fall of Islamic governments, promoted Western culture and thought by shutting down religious schools and establishing new schools. This created a fertile ground for the growth of atheism, the spread of irreligion, and the promotion of non-Islamic religions.
Second: Missionary Work and Orientalism
Alongside colonialism, missionary movements, conversion efforts, and Orientalism contributed to the process of secularization and the spread of atheism. While missionaries had little expectation that Muslims in colonized lands would convert to Christianity, they were content with Muslims becoming skeptical and doubtful about their own faith, which could lead them to corruption and irreligion. Consequently, missionaries did everything within their power to lead Muslims away from belief and towards atheism.
Third: The Emergence of Communist, Secular, and Nationalist Parties and the Impact of Secular Governments
Following the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate and its collapse after World War I, as well as the abolition of the Islamic Caliphate in 1924, chaos ensued, accelerating the rise of communist and leftist parties in the Arab world and among Muslims. Many of these parties preferred to operate underground, reproducing communist thought under the guise of Arab philosophy. Among these organizations are the Communist Parties of Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, as well as various communist parties in Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, and the Indian subcontinent. Some of these parties managed to seize power and forcibly imposed atheistic thought on the populace.
Concurrently, the establishment of secular parties occurred during the 1960s, aiming to transfer the Western experience of separating religion from politics to Islamic societies. These parties sought governance and political systems free from Islamic legislation.
Before this, some secular and Westernized individuals in the Islamic world endeavored to seize power and, using force and coercion, aimed to make the populace irreligious and atheistic. They sought to overthrow Islamic symbols and rituals while promoting Western culture and values. Notable examples include Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Turkey, Amanullah Khan in Afghanistan, and Shah Reza in Iran.
The emergence of nationalist parties with patriotic slogans is considered another factor in the spread of atheism. Some atheists, under the guise of nationalism and patriotic rhetoric, attempt to challenge religion. They elevate themselves by claiming loyalty to their homeland; however, when they attain higher positions, their intentions to undermine religion become evident, and they spread their corrosive ideologies.
Fourth: Weakness in Religious Education and the Spread of Ignorance, Moral, and Practical Corruption
A lack of awareness regarding the principles of religion, ignorance of Islamic legal rulings, moral corruption, and being immersed in personal desires and pleasures all contribute to an environment where individuals are more susceptible to atheism. This vulnerability is exacerbated by upbringing in families that do not commit to religious teachings, making young people, especially those in universities, easy targets for doubts and deviations from faith.
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