In a turbulent world crammed with various ideas, desires, and distractions, the Muslim family sails cautiously to preserve the identity of its members and keep them steadfast on the straight path of Allah, which brings happiness in this world and the Hereafter. One of the greatest intellectual challenges facing the Muslim family today is new atheism.
This blatant and fierce atheism claims to rely on empirical science to criticize religion, considering it the source of all evils. It alleges that the most important duty today is to eradicate religion from the world, showing no tolerance towards it or its followers in any form. It makes no distinction between moderate and other religious followers, viewing all as opposed to science, reason, and the progress of life.
This new atheism, advocated by figures like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, and others, discusses major religious principles from a perspective that claims objectivity, scientific basis, and rationality. It rejects the neutral atheistic view towards metaphysical matters, feeling obligated to subject religious principles to scientific and objective analysis, debunking, and even ridiculing them to undermine their sanctity and status in the minds and hearts of believers.
Facing this extreme and hostile attitude towards religion, the Muslim family stands to combat the threat of this type of atheism infiltrating homes through the internet and social media, in a global village that knows no geographical or cultural boundaries. They search for a lifeline that offers the wisest and safest remedy to face such challenges.
To confront this challenge, our Muslim families mostly need today to enhance religious culture based on dialogue and criticism. Open, safe, and transparent dialogue allows each family member to express their ideas and the ones they have encountered without fear or ambiguity. They can ask about their meanings, evidence, and opposing convictions, sharing their thoughts and doubts with their small family to be placed on the table for honest scientific discussion and critique.
Islam, as a divine, universal, and final religion, does not fear rational and objective scientific dialogue. Its holy book commands knowledge and proof as a fair way to reach the truths of the universe, humanity, and life. As Allah says, “Say, 'Produce your proof, if you should be truthful'” (Al-Baqara: 111), and “And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge.” (Al-Isra: 36) The Qur'an promises believers that the truths of science will only strengthen the truths of faith, as Allah said, “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.” (Fussilat: 53)
With this confident spirit, the Muslim family welcomes these incoming ideas to put them on the table for safe and transparent dialogue, turning the perceived danger into an opportunity to demonstrate the truths of religion and its wisdom that aligns with reason and nature on both individual and collective levels.
It is not necessary for the family to have immediate answers to every misconception, but this method of interaction opens the door to finding answers, either through direct research or consulting specialists in each field. By successfully addressing a group of these misconceptions, the firm conviction in the Islamic religion and its truths is reinforced, closing the door to the Shaitan’s whispers and doubts.
As new atheism claims to care for science and reason, the Muslim family should emphasize a religious discourse based on knowledge and evidence. This discourse should present Islamic rulings to people in a logical and coherent manner, highlighting wisdom, objectives, and outcomes as established in the sciences of Usul al-Fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) and Maqasid al-Sharia (objectives of Sharia law). All Sharia rulings aim to preserve religion, life, intellect, lineage, and wealth, as scholars have stated. Today, our duty is to link every Sharia ruling with its related objective, so the legislative system appears as Allah has intended—comprehensive, complete, and interconnected, fulfilling human needs and achieving their benefits individually and collectively.
This effective family dialogue, based on knowledge and persuasion, requires several essential supports to achieve its desired outcomes. These include providing an attractive home library that offers correct Islamic culture from reputable scientific sources, accessible to everyone. Each family member should find their need and interest in it. Regular family meetings should enhance family bonding and love, removing the artificial barriers imposed by social media and making each family member feel as if they live on a separate island from the rest of their family.
Ideas like new atheism have revealed the extent of weakness and defect in the culture of the individual Muslim, family, and society. The Islamic Ummah, which Allah intended to carry the final divine light for all humanity, must reconsider its cultural curricula and educational institutions at all levels to achieve the required civilizational witnessing in the world: “And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people.” (Al-Baqara: 143)
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