Table of Contents
Introduction
The second article in the ‘Be Proud of Your Islam‘ series delves into the harmful methods employed by Takfiris to undermine the value of Islam among Muslims. It explores their systematic tactics and provides guidance on how to preserve a strong faith through heightened awareness and steadfast patience. Click here to explore the entire series.
Tawfik Hamid’s Perspective: The Role of Military and Intellectual Defeat in Undermining Islamic Doctrine
Tawfik Hamid, a director at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, who has lectured at Congress and the Pentagon, shares his perspective in one of his talks:
“Islamic thought, or more specifically, Islamist thought, is rooted in concepts of power, arrogance, and superiority. For meaningful change to occur, we must first make them experience military defeat. Second, intellectual defeat must be encouraged through allowing and promoting harsh criticism of Islamic doctrine.
When Muslims hear voices in the West telling them that there’s no problem with Islamic teachings—that all religions preach peace, and that the only issues are poverty and lack of education—why would they feel the need to change? If you tell me I’m not sick, why would I take medicine? This is the situation we face today. Promoting severe criticism of Islamic doctrine is crucial because it forces Muslims to confront the idea that something might be wrong and opens the door to accepting other teachings. Through these two mechanisms—military and intellectual defeat—reform can begin, and change can take root”.
The Takfiri Threat: How Their Actions Lead Muslims Astray and the Consequences of Religious Deviation
Takfiris represent one of the greatest threats to humanity, and this article serves as a warning against their harmful influence. They are those who aggressively push Muslims towards disbelief, as described in the Quran:
“They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike…”1
(Suraat ‘An-Nissaa’, 3:89)
Just as they cannot tolerate purity and demand that those who reject their corruption be driven out, saying,
“…’Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure‘”2,
(Suraat ‘Al-‘Acraaf, 7:82)
they desire that Muslims abandon their faith and become like them.
A Takfiri who labels a fellow Muslim as a disbeliever carries a heavy burden of sin. If such a person kills the Muslim they have condemned, they will be punished in the Fire, while the innocent Muslim will be rewarded in Paradise. However, the more dangerous Takfiri is the one who actively leads Muslims away from their faith, causing them to lose both their religious identity in this world and their chance at salvation in the Hereafter. This is why ALLAH Almighty warns:
“And fitnah is greater than killing“3
(Suraat ‘Al-Baqarah, 2:217)
To lead someone away from their faith is a far graver sin than killing them, making such individuals the most deserving of the title “Takfiri”.
This matter is of great seriousness, and ALLAH has highlighted the intensity of their efforts to cause Muslims to lose their faith, saying:
“And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able“4
(Suraat ‘Al-Baqarah, 2:217)
HE then follows with a stern warning:
“And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally“5
(Suraat ‘Al-Baqarah, 2:217)
It is essential to understand the methods used by Takfiris to lead Muslims astray. But first, let us clarify: who are the Takfiris? They include those in positions of power within the international system who seek to enslave, humiliate, and exploit human beings and the planet’s resources. Islam, with its unaltered teachings, stands as the primary obstacle to their greed and oppression. Therefore, these forces seek to undermine Islam in the hearts of its followers.
Takfiris also include individuals among our own communities, those who, influenced by the forces controlling the global system and media, spread Takfiri ideas. While some of them do not intentionally aim to make Muslims abandon their faith, they unwittingly repeat what they hear, wanting Islam to fit their own desires and agendas.
Takfiri Tactics: How They Diminish Islam and Promote Disbelief Among Muslims
The methods employed by Takfiris to undermine Islam and promote disbelief can be summarized in two key strategies: first, diminishing Islam in the hearts of Muslims, and second, beautifying polytheism and disbelief, making them appear as acceptable alternatives to Islam. This distortion creates an environment where Muslims no longer perceive a clear divide between Islam and disbelief, and in some cases, they are led to believe that disbelief may even be superior to Islam. As a result, it becomes easier for individuals to abandon their faith without feeling the weight of the serious consequences, as ALLAH describes:
“And he who associates with ALLAH- it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place“
(Suraat ‘Al-Hajj, 22:31)
Instead, these forces make it seem like the difference is negligible, and the notion that “all paths lead to God” is presented, further fueling doubts.
Let’s examine some of the methods Takfiris use to diminish Islam in the hearts of Muslims:
- Glorifying those who attack Islam: Individuals who attack Islam are often elevated and presented by the media as symbols of revolution and progress, as if they are fighting for justice, women’s rights, and enlightenment in a world drowning in darkness.
- Minimizing opposition to ALLAH and HIS Messenger: Fighting against ALLAH and HIS Messenger is often trivialized, being seen merely as a negative trait among other, more redeeming qualities of a person. In some circles, it may not even be viewed as a serious issue at all.
- Welcoming diplomats from hostile countries: Diplomats from countries that openly mock Islam are warmly received in some Muslim-majority countries, subtly conveying the message that Islam holds little value compared to political interests and diplomatic relations.
- Legal leniency towards insults to Islam: At the legal level, insults against ALLAH, HIS Prophets, and HIS sacred books are often treated as minor offenses or are entirely overlooked. The offense is often classified under vague terms like “hurting religious feelings“, with little to no legal consequence. In contrast, anyone criticizing the ruling powers or desecrating national symbols is met with harsh punishment.
- Promoting channels that distort Islam: There are media channels and social media accounts dedicated to questioning Islam and distorting Sharia, often run by individuals who speak the same language and come from similar backgrounds as their audience. These platforms often disclose that they are funded by Western organizations, further highlighting their external influences.
- Strategic use of humor to distort Islam: Organizations like RAND, which focus on strategic studies, have developed plans to distort Islam through comedy, specifically by mocking religious figures. This form of ridicule eventually escalates to mocking ALLAH and HIS Messenger.
- Western political figures, such as former U.S. National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn, have openly expressed such views, with Flynn calling Islamism a “cancer” and suggesting that its credibility must be destroyed.
- Educational institutions sowing doubt: Some universities, particularly in the West, are known to educate people not to convert Muslims to other faiths, but specifically to create doubt in their beliefs. These institutions train individuals to question and undermine the Islamic faith.
- Exploiting media to dehumanize Muslims: Media outlets frequently publish graphic images of Muslims suffering, being tortured, or killed, contributing to a sense of helplessness and despair. These images are used to break the spirit of Muslims, preparing them for psychological defeat. While countries in the West often legally protect the dignity of their citizens by banning images of their suffering, they routinely publish distressing images of Muslims as part of the narrative that Muslims are less valuable. This sends a clear and painful message: as long as you are Muslim, your dignity is expendable. When a teacher who mocked our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon Him) was killed, the global media erupted with extensive coverage. Messages of condemnation and solidarity poured in for France from nations around the world. However, when France carried out an operation that killed over a hundred Muslims in Mali shortly afterward, it went largely unnoticed, receiving little to no media coverage. The implicit message was painfully clear: the lives and dignity of Muslims are considered insignificant.
- Islamic history is distorted, selectively omitted, or entirely excluded from school curriculums. This is in line with recommendations from strategic studies such as those by the RAND Corporation, which suggest downplaying Islamic historical achievements to ensure Muslims lack a sense of pride in their heritage. The objective is to make Muslims feel as though they have no strong historical roots, no legacy to emulate, and no meaningful place in history except as peripheral figures.
- The lack of living Muslim role models further exacerbates this issue. Figures who embody Islamic principles and inspire action are often marginalized or ignored. In contrast, the world glorifies and elevates figures such as Gandhi, Mandela, Mother Teresa, and Che Guevara, presenting them as the ultimate icons of justice and human achievement.
- This systematic marginalization extends beyond current events to include a deliberate erasure of the civilizational contributions of Muslims. The historical role of Muslims in groundbreaking discoveries and inventions, both in the past and present, is often ignored or overshadowed, leaving a void in the collective consciousness of the Muslim world.
The Takfiri Strategy: Beautifying Disbelief and Undermining Islamic Identity
All these methods, and many others, are systematically and deliberately employed to weaken the hold of Islam in the hearts of Muslims. At the same time, Takfiris work diligently to beautify disbelief and make it appear appealing and acceptable. Their methods include the following:
- Redefining disbelief with attractive terminology: Disbelief is cloaked in terms like “freedom of expression”, “culture”, “enlightenment”, “secularism”, and “modernism”. For instance, when someone mocks Sharia or explicitly states, “We are a state of constitution and law with no connection to the Quran”, they are labeled as secular rather than disbelievers. Even upon their death, prayers for mercy are offered for them. Tragically, some groups labeled as Islamic fall into promoting these narratives.
- Promoting “moderate Muslims” who attack Islam: Strategic centers, such as those producing reports like “Building Moderate Islamic Networks” and “Democratic Civil Islam”, recommend supporting so-called “moderate Muslims”. These individuals are often born into Muslim families but openly reject Quranic teachings and attack its rulings. These centers advocate for their promotion in media, translation of their works, and dissemination of their ideas, particularly in East Asian countries. Meanwhile, those who advocate for the establishment of Sharia are painted as extremists.
- Disconnecting Muslims from their Islamic identity: Efforts are made to reorient Muslim identity towards pre-Islamic civilizations, such as the Pharaonic culture. When Sharia is mentioned, the response often is, “You’re taking us back 1400 years”, while these same voices promote a return to ancient pagan systems of governance, idol worship, and the enslavement of people under the rule of pharaohs.
- Undermining Islamic institutions: While pagan temples, such as Hindu temples, are built, Quran memorization centers face restrictions, and mosques are demolished under the guise of lacking proper permits.
- Promoting the “Abrahamic religion” concept: This narrative blurs the lines between monotheism and polytheism, portraying all Abrahamic faiths as one. However, true Abrahamic monotheism, as ALLAH says in the Quran, is clear: “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to ALLAH]. And he was not of the polytheists“6 (Suraat ‘Ali-Imraan, 3:67).
- Reviving and glorifying deviant historical figures: Figures like Al-Hallaj, whose ideas are rooted in deviance, are polished and celebrated through series and publications, spreading their distorted legacies far and wide.
- Portraying atheism as intellectual and respectable: Atheism is framed as a profound philosophical stance, with atheists depicted as intellectuals who left Islam after thorough study. This narrative discourages labeling them as apostates and positions them as a societal group with equal citizenship rights. Consequently, refuting their beliefs is presented as an offense to their feelings, a threat to national unity, or even an incitement of societal discord.
- Spreading humanism as a replacement for divine values: Humanism is presented as a system where individuals are judged solely on their interactions with others. Under this framework, calling to atheism or rejecting ALLAH is not viewed as a moral failing, as ALLAH’s rights are deprioritized, and only worldly behavior is considered significant.
- Elevating Western Takfiri atheists and pseudo-science advocates: Programs under the guise of “simplifying science” glorify atheistic figures and misuse science to advocate for atheism, further alienating Muslims from their faith.
- Exploiting missteps of those who misuse Takfir: The media highlights and amplifies the actions of individuals who misuse the concept of Takfir, unjustly declaring Muslims as disbelievers and committing crimes against them. This narrative fosters a widespread aversion among Muslims to the very idea of distinguishing between believers and disbelievers. It equates anyone who accurately identifies disbelief with those who misuse this concept.
These carefully designed strategies aim to erode the foundation of Islamic belief, blur the distinctions between Islam and disbelief, and weaken the Muslim community from within, making them more susceptible to external influences and internal disunity.
The Existential Battle Against Takfiri Thought: Reclaiming Our Islamic Identity and Pride
All these methods are part of a systematic and deliberate effort to diminish Islam in the hearts of Muslims, while simultaneously beautifying disbelief to make it appear appealing. The goal is to weaken faith and encourage Muslims to abandon their religion. In the face of these challenges, we are engaged in an existential struggle against Takfiri thought, which seeks to uproot our religion and erase what remains of its influence.
It is crucial that we begin to value ourselves as Muslims and free ourselves from the psychological defeat and humiliation we endure daily. We must reclaim pride in our faith—not only for our own sake, but for humanity, which needs us. Allah has chosen us for a great purpose: “You are the best nation produced for mankind.” This reminder should inspire us to stand firm in our identity and purpose.
In the next article, we will provide the conclusion and a call to action, God willing. Stay with us to explore whether humanity truly needs us or if this is merely rhetoric designed to stir emotions.
Source:
- Dr. Eyad Qunaibi. تكفير المسلمين بهزيمتهم نفسياً – كن عزيزاً بإسلامك [2]. YouTube Video.
