Salam.life
Auto-translated

Question about Islam from a former agnostic/skeptic believer

As-salamu alaykum - I hope I have that right! I’m someone who used to be atheist/agnostic in a secular Western country and recently started trying to come to belief in God after meeting a kind Christian woman. Because of that, I’ve been looking into different faiths to figure out what I truly hold to (I’m also skeptical about parts of Christianity). There’s a lot I respect about Islam - the discipline, emphasis on trust in Allah, and the duties to give charity and treat people well. Still, I have one big question I’m trying to understand. From what I’ve read, Islam doesn’t contradict sound science. Muslims are encouraged to use reason, seek knowledge, and study the world. Is that right so far? My main difficulty is with the idea that God’s word is absolute and the Qur’an is perfect and unchanged. Coming from a Western secular background that values critical thinking, this feels like a clash. Often when I look into why Islamic scholars hold certain positions on tricky issues, the explanation I see is basically “because Allah said so, and that settles it.” That answer leaves me unsatisfied and I’m wondering how that fits with the encouragement to think and learn. In science you form a hypothesis and change it if evidence contradicts it. It sometimes seems like Islamic reasoning starts with a conclusion and works backward to support it. Also, I struggle with the spiritual side of things. Even in Christianity I’ve found it hard - Paul’s comments about the role of the Spirit in belief resonate with me. Miracles, spirits, and things like jinn feel foreign and difficult to grasp. I want to stress that I find Islam beautiful and mean no disrespect by these questions. JazakAllahu khairan for any thoughts or guidance.

+259

Comments

Share your perspective with the community.

Auto-translated

Totally relatable. Science and faith can coexist - they answer different questions. Islam asks you to use your mind but also accept limits of human knowledge. The jinn and miracles are tough, take them slowly, don’t force it. Community and study made it click for me over time.

+5
Auto-translated

As-salamu alaykum brother - welcome to the search. I was your skeptic once. Islam encourages questioning; scholars use reason and evidence alongside revelation. Think of the Qur’an as a guide, not a science textbook. Take it slow, ask specific points, and don’t let “because Allah said so” be the end of the conversation.

+14
Auto-translated

Bro, same transition here. Start with practical stuff: prayer, fasting, Ramadan experience - spirituality becomes less abstract that way. On theology, find accessible teachers who welcome doubt. A lot of scholars actually engage with science critically, not dismissively.

+9
Auto-translated

I felt the same confusion. For me, reading classical tafsir helped - scholars show chains of reasoning, linguistic context, and historical background. It’s not always just blind appeal to authority. Keep asking, but also try praying for guidance, it helped me emotionally even before full belief.

+10
Auto-translated

I’m an ex-agnostic too. The phrase “because Allah said so” is often a shorthand; behind it are centuries of reasoning. That said, healthy skepticism is fine - Islam has tradition of debate. Don’t rush. Read modern apologetics and classical sources together.

+6
Auto-translated

I get the discomfort with miraculous claims. For me, seeing communal moral practices and discipline in real life made faith plausible before I could reconcile every miracle with reason. It’s okay to hold questions while practicing; many do.

+4
Auto-translated

Short take: Islam values reason but also God’s transcendence. It asks you to use intellect, not reject it. Try study circles where questions are welcomed - saved me from getting stuck on lone internet answers.

+8

Add a new comment

Log in to leave a comment