Why do people reject Islam?

[SplodgeWaddler]

Just curious really. A lovely colleague of mine used to be a Muslim but was quite vocal in telling us she was no longer a Muslim. It was a clear, decisive rejection of the religion and not just a lapse of faith.

Has anyone done similar, I'd love to know your reasons.

There were many Muslim girls at my school, some of whom had massively restricted prospects in life. One girl (who was a bit wild) told us she was worried that she was going to be forced into an arranged marriage. She just didn't come back one day, she was under 16.

Things do seem to have moved on since then though but there still seems to be huge variation.

I think everyone should reject all religions. They are all pernicious and misogynist. All of them.

How can you be ‘racist’ towards something that is not a race ?

Are you saying that people who are Muslim cannot experience racism...?

How can Muslims experience racism of they aren't a race?

Every Muslim has a race? Because Muslims are people?

Right, but the racism isn't because they are Muslim. Its because they are <insert race here>

I never said the racism was because they were Muslim

Then I don't understand what its got to do with the thread

Because why create a thread which will demonise a group of people who are already experiencing plenty of hate

Where does British come into this? Her point was about why do some Muslims choose to wear hijab and some don’t? My point was why do some (British or American or whatever) women choose to wear shorts and some choose to wear trousers. I will answer - because it is a CHOICE.

I’ve known many Muslims who drink and eat bacon sandwiches. They still consider themselves “Muslim” albeit not good ones.

Are you talking about apostasy? That is problematic in Islam.

I'm not sure where you've got your info from but I work with lots of Muslim people including women. They are all in professional jobs and work, aren't stuck in the home. They are what I would call, quite practicing - none of them drink or eat bacon and do their prayers during work. Some are Pakistani and others are Arab. They are all born here but do talk about their extended families who live in the middle east / Pakistan and the women seem to have range of jobs. One is even training to be a pilot.

It's not difficult to do. You just stop having faith. You would be ostracised by your community, sure but that's if you chose to share it with everyone but you can absolutely choose to leave it quietly. Noone would ever know that you've stopped believing in the faith..

They might notice though if a woman, not longer bound by her faith, chooses to wear what she wants, eat what she wants and do what she wants, including not performing the prayers.

If you quietly stop having faith, but continue to behave according to the expectations of the faith&culture, noone would care - you are still under control, you are still in line. I'd dare a guess that those using faith to control women don't care whether you really believe or not, they just need you to perform.

I am disappointed that there was only one response to my query about Islamic practices and the effect on the environment. Islam teaching makes it quite clear that Muslims will be judged on how well they take care of the planet. We have just been told that the planet is at a tipping point in terms of global warming due in part to burning fossil fuels etc. I would expect Islamic countries and individual Muslims to lead the way in rejecting car and plane use and making use of bikes where possible. And yet few ordinary Muslims seem to consider the part they play in looking after the future of the planet. Wearing restrictive clothing is not an Islamic requirement. The only requirement is to dress modestly. However, taking care of the planet is absolutely a requirement. Yet most Muslim women go against bikes because as one poster wrote ‘ their clothing is too restrictive’. This means in effect that many women ( and men) ignore the fundamental Qu’ranic teaching in favour of dressing in a culturally imposed style.
No true Muslim supports nuclear weapons because of the damage to our sacred planet. Every true Muslim would do anything they can to protect the future of the Earth. Islamic scholars acknowledge the importance of being environmentally friendly.
I just do not understand how posters on here who profess to be serious about following Islam, reject fundamental teachings in favour of cultural practices. The Qur’an also teaches the need to look after the body. It is a ‘temple’ . Yet many Muslim women cover up for cultural reasons in spite of the fact that in this country they are the group most likely to be vitamin D deficient.
I suppose I don’t understand why for so many Muslim women they would rather observe cultural practices ( using cars instead of bikes etc) instead of following the very clear teachings on protecting the environment above anything.
Islam should be leading the way in encouraging followers to do what they can to preserve the future of Planet Earth. It is disappointing that so many Muslims prefer the cultural to the religious requirements.

Qur'anic teachings on the environment emphasize that the Earth is a sacred trust (Amanah) created in perfect balance (Mizan), with humans appointed as stewards (Khalifah) responsible for its protection, preservation, and sustainable use.
it just seems to me that some Muslims quietly ignore this fundamental duty. I would love to hear from MN posters why Muslim women are not leading the way in using bikes, avoiding planes as a means of travel and adopting ‘Green ‘ practices and setting an example to others by taking care of the Earth and all life on earth.

The following countries still have the death penalty for apostasy (leaving Islam) : Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

In other countries such as Pakistan or North Africa there are extrajudicial killings for apostasy.

So on this basis if you are a Muslim then it's probably not a good idea to leave the faith.

@Judgejudysno1fan
Please can you respond to my question about so many Muslims following cultural Islamic practices such as dress code. Few Muslims seem as bothered about Qur'anic teaching and the environment. The UN says the Earth is at crisis point and I would expect Muslim followers to be out and about doing their best for the future of Planet Earth. You seem much more interested in cultural Islam than in the theological requirement in Islam to be Khalifahs taling care of the Earth.

This is what I find hard to understand especially when we are told Islam is a religion of peace

people should be allowed to chose their faith

My point wasn’t why some Muslim women wear hijabs and some don’t.
It wasn’t even primarily about hijabs, but more about face coverings.
We’re being told the Quran isn’t mandating them and that’s it’s simply something some women choose to wear.
My question was why it was almost exclusively Muslim women who choose to cover their faces in public even though apparently they don’t have to.

Not so much a choice as subliminal brainwashing imo. I could accept it more if men had that "choice" as well but to put the onus only on women to dress "modestly" reeks of control and misogyny

Well the Hadith (Sahih Muslim 1731) states that Prophet Muhammad established the formal procedure for managing relations with non-Muslims under Muslim authority instructing commanders to offer three choices to non Muslims: convert to Islam, pay jizya (a tax), or face war.

So not a lot of choice in choosing your faith.

Exactly

I think it means submission

only peaceful on their terms

THIS WITH BELLS ON

@Screamingabdabz- well
one obvious answer why people don't leave Islam can be found in Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari (6922):

"Whoever changes his religion, put him to death"