"By failing to properly teach and explain our deen to our youth, we have failed them and set them up for disappointment and failure."

Why Are They Leaving Islam?

By Matthew Longacre

Whether it is in the masjid, on the street, or online, these incidents are too numerous to count. If you haven’t heard these stories, then you haven’t been listening. Every day, time and time again, a troubled Muslim reaches out and communicates to someone, in one way or another, that they are thinking about leaving Islam. They explain that they have been in a troubled state for a while. They say that they pray and they feel nothing; that when they sin, they no longer feel guilty. They talk about how tired they are of the rules and the restrictions and being boxed in.

Every time I hear this story, I feel a deep aching in my heart. I ache because I realize that, by this time in the conversation, it is often too late. I ache because, while this person is so far removed from their Lord that they feel Islam is the root of their problems, the real problem is that they have never truly been exposed to the beauty of their deen (religion) at all. I ache most of all, though, because this is our (the community’s) fault. By failing to properly teach and explain our deen to our youth, we have failed them and set them up for disappointment and failure.

Teaching Our Ummah—Where We Have Failed

This failure begins at the very core of what we teach young and new Muslims alike. When we begin to teach our children about our deen, we focus almost exclusively on the outward actions. We teach them that they must pray, that they must make wudu (ablution), that they must grow out their beard, that they must not eat pork or drink alcohol, that they must never date, and much more. When a new Muslim makes shahadah (the testimony of faith), the mission of the community seems to inundate the new brother or sister with a torrent of rules. I have even been present for a number of shahadat that are immediately followed with people either criticizing the new Muslim’s dress or trying to teach the person how to read and write in Arabic!

Eventually, if our new Muslim brother or sister hasn’t already been driven away from the masjid (mosque) by our torrents of dos and don’ts, they eventually ask about Iman (faith) and how it differs from Islam. This discussion is possibly the most critical point in the development of a Muslim’s deen, yet the same people who had so much to say about rules before have very little to say here. The majority of the time, we refer them to Hadith Jibril. While Hadith Jibril is certainly an excellent starting place and a primer for beginning to understand this distinction, it is a Hadith that requires a greater depth of understanding to truly appreciate. If Hadith Jibril were the end-all be-all, then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (Glorified is He) would not have bothered with the grand elaboration on this conversation that occurs all throughout the Qur’an and Sunnah (teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him).

Beyond this, most Muslims can only readily cite one other passage concerning the relationship of Iman and Islam:

The bedouins say, “We have believed.” Say, “You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts.” [Qur’an 49:14]

Thus, our ad-hoc shaykh reasons, Iman means “faith,” and faith will only come after you have Islam or “submit.”1

Then the conversation is turned back to dos and don’ts, and an invaluable opportunity is lost.

Islam, Iman and What We Ought to be Saying

When we have the chance to sit down with our children or a new Muslim and teach them these critical concepts, we need to be comprehensive, we need to use analogies and examples, and we cannot underestimate the value of reasoning and reflection. A conversation could go something like this:

In the Hadith Jibril, we see that Islam is described through a set of actions and Iman is described through a set of beliefs. This is why you will oftentimes see Islam translated as “submission” and Iman translated as “belief.” But these translations don’t do the terms justice.

For example, Anas bin Malik radi allahu `anhu (may God be pleases with him) relates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]. The love described in this hadith is not a passive thing; it is in fact very active! In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) also almost always pairs a description of a believer or mu’min with an action. For example:

“But they who believe and do righteous deeds – those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.” [Qur’an 2:82]

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah – Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them [...]” [Qur’an 2:2-3]

Additionally, when you look at the description of Islam in Hadith Jibril, you see that the very first act is to “witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” the witnessing of which requires not just belief, but an unwavering conviction in two of the principles of Iman (Allah’s Oneness and Messengers).

So… what does this mean? It means that your Islam and your Iman are in a mutual symbiotic relationship. An example of this is if we were to place a tree sapling and a young boy into two separate, air-tight rooms. Both the tree and the boy require certain provisions to survive: for the tree, you need sunlight, soil, and water; for the boy, he needs food, water, and affection. However, even if we provide all these necessary things, the tree and the boy will not survive while separated. Eventually, the tree will run out of carbon dioxide and the boy will run out of oxygen. To solve this problem, both the boy and the tree need to be placed into the same room. With their outside resources and each other, they can both live, grow, and develop. Our Islam and our Iman are the same way. To develop our Islam or submission requires hard work, regimentation, and focus. To develop our Iman or our utter conviction, we need sincere reflection, humility, and gratitude.

However, if we try to survive with our Islam alone and don’t combine it with Iman, we are ultimately hypocrites. Each day, we bear witness to and worship a Lord we doubt exists and we take action for a wide variety of reasons that have nothing to do with pleasing Him. If we do this, we ultimately share the ranks of those who joined Islam for political gain, for convenience, or simply because they were told to. Conversely, if we try to survive with our Iman and no Islam, we are ultimately rejecting the very Salvation we believe we’ve been given. Essentially, we are saying that while we know Allah (swt) is our Master, and we know He has sent us a Message, and we know we will be judged by how we follow that Message, we shall not follow that Message and we shall ignore our Master.

Thus, while you can build your Islam through practice and regimentation, and you can build your Iman through reflection and gratitude, either one is stunted from the start without the other. For the system to truly work, your Islam must become the Iman of your limbs, and your Iman must become the Islam of your heart. For ultimately, the greatest form of submission is the submission of your heart, and the greatest conviction is the one that emanates through your actions. Therefore, regimentation and toil alone will not do; you must also reflect, become humble, and increase in gratitude.

Ihsan and Taqwa– The Sweetness

This journey is not without its perils. While we grow in our Islam, we will most certainly be tested:

“You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse [...]” [Qur’an 3:186]

Indeed, people will witness your actions and your demeanor change, and they will not be happy. Your friends may abandon you because you no longer engage in the questionable acts they participate in or because they feel embarrassed to be around you. Your family may begin to accuse you of becoming “extreme.” Additionally, you will be tested by Allah (swt) through your possessions and by Shaytan through whisperings in your heart. This is because this life is meant as a test. The verse continues:

“[...] But if you are patient and fear Allah- indeed, that is of the matters (worthy) of determination.” [3:186]

This is where our deen truly becomes unlike any other. As we continue to carefully provide for our Islam and Iman with their necessary ingredients and as they continue to meld and grow together, our increasing level of submission and our growing conviction and faith begin to bear fruit.

These are the seeds of Taqwa growing deep within our souls. Taqwa is oftentimes described as “God-consciousness,” but it is much deeper than that. We are beings whose only true sustenance comes from Allah (swt)—the closer we are to Him, the more directly we experience Him, the more sustenance we receive and the more we feel at home. Taqwa is when we are gifted with feeling and experiencing the presence of our Lord. As we gain Taqwa, we begin to see the world for how it truly is—the blessings and Mercy of Allah become joys and splendors for us, and the sins of the world become like thorns which we see and avoid. In fact, one of the Companions of the Prophet described Taqwa as akin to walking through a path filled with thorns while trying to leave your clothing unscathed.

This is the sweetness of our religion: because of our sacrifice and because of our devotion, we begin to feel absolute peace and tranquility through our submission to Allah (swt). Not only do we feel joy and felicity as a result of our prayers, we begin to crave worship and no longer feel toil or burden from it. The joy is infectious, and it emanates from our very being. Unless your heart is covered in darkness from sin or a seal from pure arrogance, simply being around a person who has strong Taqwa is a transformative and joyful experience. This is Ihsan (excellence), and it is beautifully summarized in Hadith Jibril.

In sum, as you begin or continue your journey in search of Salvation, please remember these things. First, that you need both Islam and Iman and neither can be neglected. This means you must toil and regiment your worship as well as reflect and grow in gratitude. On your journey, there will be times when you will feel more connected to your Lord than others, and there will most certainly be tests and challenges thrown at you from all sides. However, by being patient, the greatest reward you can possibly imagine awaits on the other side, both in this life and in the Hereafter.

Having this conversation with a Muslim, no matter what the age, is a fundamental part of preparing him or her for a successful journey. All else must come secondary: just as a journey is doomed to failure without a map or destination, a person’s life journey is doomed to failure without knowing the Straight Path and their desired Destination. May Allah (swt) empower us to guide our youth and new Muslims aright, and may He guide all of us upon the Straight Path.

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/society/dawah/why-are-they-leaving-islam/

please can i have your email id?

^ tbaba1234@yahoo.com

tbaba1234: ^ tbaba1234@yahoo.com

sent an email hoping to get reply soon.

Very interesting article.

Interesting but wrong.


Surely, Tbaba as someone that lives in the USA you should know that the capitalist lifestyle is also a major reason for leaving islam.


How is someone supposed to be a muslim when the hollywood lifestyle of sex, money and partying is advertised to him on a daily basis?

Have you seen the show "All American Muslim"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0E7-9e6GPM

MacDaddy01: Interesting but wrong.


Surely, Tbaba as someone that lives in the USA you should know that the capitalist lifestyle is also a major reason for leaving islam.


How is someone supposed to be a muslim when the hollywood lifestyle of sex, money and partying is advertised to him on a daily basis?

Have you seen the show "All American Muslim"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0E7-9e6GPM

read his post again you will understand.
Peace

justaqad:

read his post again you will understand.
Peace

I read the post. The problem is that the article focuses on the teaching of islam and not the environment.


While teaching is important, it becomes useless if the environment negates the teaching.

MacDaddy01:

I read the post. The problem is that the article focuses on the teaching of islam and not the environment.


While teaching is important, it becomes useless if the environment negates the teaching.

environment cannot negate the teachings when faith is solid.
One can still live an islamic life in an un-islamic environment

justaqad:

environment cannot negate the teachings when faith is solid.
One can still live an islamic life in an un-islamic environment

Really?


How do you explain that Islamic finance is the way forward when thousands of muslims work on wall street and make millions of dollars?

May ALLAH rewad u 4 dis piece. Even d prophets were tested so hu ar we? Leavin islam 4 anoda religion jst because test frm ALLAH i tink indicate a shaky faith, cos we hav oda non-muslims hu faces a mor worst situation dan u ar. May ALLAH hep us!

MacDaddy01:


Really?


How do you explain that Islamic finance is the way forward when thousands of muslims work on wall street and make millions of dollars?

Dnt u tink dis wil hijack d aim of dis topic? Muslims u said, not islam

Restrictin a fresh convert upon aceptance of islam myt make d religion look dificult 4 a novice. I once tod a non-muslim 2 convert 1st, dat he can drink and wit tym he wl undastand most religion says 'NO' 2 drinkin dat not only islam dos dat.

this is really a good article and nicely written as well.

in addition to the points raised in the article,i want to add a few.

there is also the factor of the Ahlul-Bayt (as).when you believe in the wilayah (love/leadership/support) of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) you're definitely a step closer to Allah (swt).this is the type of topic where we understand why the Prophet (sa) likened the Ahlul-Bayt (as) to the ark of Noah and said anyone who embarks in the ark is saved and anyone who abandons it is doomed.life is all about struggle and striving to better yourself and your world.that is the essence of life.when you develop the love of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) that will take you to the love of Allah (swt).

when you look at the lives of the purified members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as),you understand that there is nothing too hard that others have not faced and nothing too good that others have not done and surpassed you.that is why the purified members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) referred to in verse 33:33 of the Holy Quran are called the "proof" or hujjah (decisive argument) of Allah (swt) upon creation.the Ahlul-Bayt (as) have faced the hardest of times and succeeded and they have also done the greatest of ibadah in those times.whether you are a new convert to Islam or born a Muslim,an attachment to the Ahlul-Bayt (as) creates such an emotional attachment based on love and admiration that takes you a step closer to Allah (swt).when you see the most righteous of Allah's creation and the best of creation,Muhammad (sa) and his pure Ahlul-Bayt (as),have faced the worse oppression and triumphed,then definitely you only feel motivated to reach out more for Allah's mercy.

when you remind yourself of the struggles Prophet Muhammad (sa) went through and the suffering he faced in badr,uhud and taif,you know Islam is the religion that leads to eternal success through struggle.you also know in that struggle is a life with meaning that makes you feel fulfilled and pleased with life itself.then you remind yourself that Muhammad (sa) is a true prophet and man of God who is not only hated during his time by evil forces but even after his death and throughout the centuries.his sacrifices continued.when Yazid made a very evil and gruesome statement when Imam Hussain's (as) head was brought to him:"how i wish my ancestors in Badr witness this (i.e. the killing of Hussain,Prophet Muhammad's grandson)",you will know how evil forces operate in society and in the selves of people and how great the sacrifice of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) in the path of Islam.Yazid was referring to his oppressive and arrogant ancestors in the battle of Badr who were humbled by the power of Allah (swt) and through the iman,truthful promise and spiritual strength of Muhammad (sa) and by the sword of Imam Ali (as).

when you send salam to Imam Hussain (as) after offering your obligatory salat and you say:

"Assalamu Alal Hussain,Wa Ala Aliyib-nil-Hussain,Wa Ala Awlad Al-Hussain,Wa Ala Ashabil Hussain"-Peace be upon Hussain,and upon Ali the son of Hussain,and upon the children of Hussain and upon the companions of Hussain"

...you feel you have done a worthwhile action.there is that total sense of satisfaction and purity at heart and sincerity in purpose,which is to pelase Allah (swt) no matter how tedious satan makes you see about following that path.Imam Hussain (as) was offering salat in Karbala when arrows where raining on him and his companions were using their bodies to shield him.you feel you're on the right path through the love for the Ahlul-Bayt (as).

to conclude,this emotional attachment to the Ahlul-Bayt (as) of Muhammad and to Muhammad (sa) makes you love Allah (swt) and the religion of Allah (swt) more and appreciate that path of fulfilling and joyful struggle and even hardship unto the path of success and eternal bliss.even when shaitan whispers in your ears and tries to distract you and society create problems,the proofs of Allah upon His creation make what you see as "burdensome" very light to carry and face and even decisively defeat the impediments as the blood of Imam Hussain (as) triumphed upon the sword of the tyrant in Karbala; and as Imam Ali (as) exclaimed his first words when he was struck with a poisoned sword by a follower of satan, while praying,his words in embracing martyrdom were:"By the Lord of the Ka'ba,I have triumphed"!!! this courage of Imam Ali (as) at that point uttering those words,and best examples of Islamic conduct and morals built on faith and combined with utter submission to the will of Allah (swt) will insha'Allah make us all better Muslims and good believers in Muhammad (sa) and the Ahlul-Bayt of Muhammad (sa).brothers and sisters,the wilyah of the pure members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) and understanding their wilayah is very important to both submission (Islam) and faith (Iman).

^Rolls eyes.

maclatunji: ^Rolls eyes.

rolls eyes back.mstchew!!!

PS: I have edited my (above) post and made few corrections (grammar and spellings).please enjoy a better read.thanks.

caseless: Dnt u tink dis wil hijack d aim of dis topic? Muslims u said, not islam

lol...who wants to hijack the thread?
Is this thread not about muslims, islam and leaving the faith?

Did I not give a valid reason why people leave the faith in capitalistic environment?


Learn from Tbaba because your hostile attitude turns people away from islam.

LagosShia: this is really a good article and nicely written as well.

in addition to the points raised in the article,i want to add a few.

there is also the factor of the Ahlul-Bayt (as).when you believe in the wilayah (love/leadership/support) of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) you're definitely a step closer to Allah (swt).this is the type of topic where we understand why the Prophet (sa) likened the Ahlul-Bayt (as) to the ark of Noah and said anyone who embarks in the ark is saved and anyone who abandons it is doomed.life is all about struggle and striving to better yourself and your world.that is the essence of life.when you develop the love of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) that will take you to the love of Allah (swt).

when you look at the lives of the purified members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as),you understand that there is nothing too hard that others have not faced and nothing too good that others have not done and surpassed you.that is why the purified members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) referred to in verse 33:33 of the Holy Quran are called the "proof" or hujjah (decisive argument) of Allah (swt) upon creation.the Ahlul-Bayt (as) have faced the hardest of times and succeeded and they have also done the greatest of ibadah in those times.whether you are a new convert to Islam or born a Muslim,an attachment to the Ahlul-Bayt (as) creates such an emotional attachment based on love and admiration that takes you a step closer to Allah (swt).when you see the most righteous of Allah's creation and the best of creation,Muhammad (sa) and his pure Ahlul-Bayt (as),have faced the worse oppression and triumphed,then definitely you only feel motivated to reach out more for Allah's mercy.

when you remind yourself of the struggles Prophet Muhammad (sa) went through and the suffering he faced in badr,uhud and taif,you know Islam is the religion that leads to eternal success through struggle.you also know in that struggle is a life with meaning that makes you feel fulfilled and pleased with life itself.then you remind yourself that Muhammad (sa) is a true prophet and man of God who is not only hated during his time by evil forces but even after his death and throughout the centuries.his sacrifices continued.when Yazid made a very evil and gruesome statement when Imam Hussain's (as) head was brought to him:"how i wish my ancestors in Badr witness this (i.e. the killing of Hussain,Prophet Muhammad's grandson)",you will know how evil forces operate in society and in the selves of people and how great the sacrifice of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) in the path of Islam.Yazid was referring to his oppressive and arrogant ancestors in the battle of Badr who were humbled by the power of Allah (swt) and through the iman,truthful promise and spiritual strength of Muhammad (sa) and by the sword of Imam Ali (as).

when you send salam to Imam Hussain (as) after offering your obligatory salat and you say:

"Assalamu Alal Hussain,Wa Ala Aliyib-nil-Hussain,Wa Ala Awlad Al-Hussain,Wa Ala Ashabil Hussain"-Peace be upon Hussain,and upon Ali the son of Hussain,and upon the children of Hussain and upon the companions of Hussain"

...you feel you have done a worthwhile action.there is that total sense of satisfaction and purity at heart and sincerity in purpose,which is to pelase Allah (swt) no matter how tedious satan makes you see about following that path.Imam Hussain (as) was offering salat in Karbala when arrows where raining on him and his companions were using their bodies to shield him.you feel you're on the right path through the love for the Ahlul-Bayt (as).

to conclude,this emotional attachment to the Ahlul-Bayt (as) of Muhammad and to Muhammad (sa) makes you love Allah (swt) and the religion of Allah (swt) more and appreciate that path of fulfilling and joyful struggle and even hardship unto the path of success and eternal bliss.even when shaitan whispers in your ears and tries to distract you and society create problems,the proofs of Allah upon His creation make what you see as "burdensome" very light to carry and face and even decisively defeat the impediments as the blood of Imam Hussain (as) triumphed upon the sword of the tyrant in Karbala; and as Imam Ali (as) exclaimed his first words when he was struck with a poisoned sword by a follower of satan, while praying,his words in embracing martyrdom were:"By the Lord of the Ka'ba,I have triumphed"!!! this courage of Imam Ali (as) at that point uttering those words,and best examples of Islamic conduct and morals built on faith and combined with utter submission to the will of Allah (swt) will insha'Allah make us all better Muslims and good believers in Muhammad (sa) and the Ahlul-Bayt of Muhammad (sa).brothers and sisters,the wilyah of the pure members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) and understanding their wilayah is very important to both submission (Islam) and faith (Iman).

thanks brother.this is very inspiring and i find it more useful than the article in the OP for understanding issues better.

maclatunji: ^Rolls eyes.

Hahaha. A moderator should not roll his eyes
But seriously, nobody can deny the intensity of the efforts and tailgating

"What is wrong with people who, when mention of the family of Ibrahim and Imran is made their hearts are gladdened and encouraged,but when mention of my family (Ahlul-Bayt) is made,their hearts are turned away"

-Prophet Muhammad (sa)

^^^
Really? Their hearts turn away? Are you sure?
Or people are exploiting the love for the Prophet (PBUH) to turn people away from a collective problem in order to pursue divisive agenda!

BTw, leave the people who "hate" the Prophet (PBUH) to face the wrath of Allah by themselves. Nobody would hold you to account for them!