Stages of Misguidance Among Muslims and Their Modern Impacts

Stages of Intellectual Misguidance Among Muslims and Their Consequences
By: Azeemur Rahman Usmani

❖ The Possible Path of Misguidance Among Muslims​

Although this is not a fixed rule, many Muslims today undergo a progressive decline in belief through certain identifiable stages. These stages reflect the intellectual and ideological journey often observed in contemporary Muslim societies:

① Infatuation with Logic, Philosophy, and Science​

• Many Muslims, influenced by the material progress of Western nations, begin to view Western logic, philosophy, and science as the ultimate truth.
• They attempt to validate unseen realities (e.g., angels, life after death) using scientific laboratories.
• Instead of accepting religious evidence, they demand empirical proof, seeking to believe only what they can see.
• Such individuals are typically referred to as “rationalists.”

② Resentment Toward Religious Figures​

• Observing the decline of the Muslim world, they blame the religious class for societal failures.
• This leads to hatred toward scholars and clerics, whom they hold responsible for social and economic woes.
• They begin to feel aversion even to Islamic symbols like the beard or skullcap.
• This mindset is often seen in what may be called the “angry leftist” or “neo-leftist” group.

③ Rejection of Hadith​

• They begin to reject the Hadith literature based on flawed or limited reasoning.
• Instead of genuine research, they judge texts by personal understanding, accepting or rejecting based on their own intellect.
• These individuals are commonly referred to as “neo-liberals.”

④ Distorted Interpretation of the Qur’an​

• They attempt to reinterpret Qur’anic verses through the lens of science, philosophy, or logic.
• The rich intellectual tradition of Islam is seen as conspiratorial or irrelevant.
• They often disregard consensus (ijmāʿ) and mass transmission (tawātur).
• Through linguistic manipulation, they impose subjective meanings onto Qur'anic words.
• This group is commonly labelled as “Qur’anists” or “Hadith rejectors.”

⑤ Rejection of Organized Religion​

• Religion is now viewed as a man-made construct or a source of conflict.
• While still believing in God’s existence, they reject the authority of Sharīʿah.
• They seek personal spiritual paths to God, such as through meditation or mysticism.
• These are generally known as “spiritualists.”

⑥ Acceptance of a Creator, Denial of Divine Lordship​

• They acknowledge a Creator, but believe He is detached from the universe.
• They deny resurrection, divine justice, and the hereafter, often adopting pseudo-scientific theories like alien life origins.
• Such individuals are often called “Deists.”

⑦ Agnosticism: Claiming Uncertainty​

• This group claims that the existence or non-existence of God cannot be definitively known.
• They refrain from accepting any argument or belief with conviction.
• These are referred to as “Agnostics.”

⑧ Denial of God​

• This final stage involves complete rejection of God's existence.
• Often disillusioned by religious hypocrisy or injustice, they develop animosity toward the very idea of God.
• These individuals are known as “Atheists” or “Mulḥidīn” (deniers).

✿ Summary:​

These stages are not absolute rules, but rather represent general trends found in various modern philosophical frameworks that influence Muslim minds today.
While this journey is often presented as intellectual progress, in reality, it is a path of misguidance.


Yet, there is hope. This journey is not unidirectional. Many individuals have returned from the depths of atheism and rediscovered the truth of God’s existence.
That is why, even today, Islam remains the fastest-growing religion worldwide.