Manifestation of Ideological Colonialism

The Flood of Heresy: A Manifestation of Ideological Colonialism and a Trial for Islamic Consciousness

By: Mohammad Taukir Rahmani
EC Exclusive

There was a time when the sun of knowledge rose in the East. When the intellectual glow emanating from the tents of Arabia illuminated lands from Andalusia to Bukhara. Baghdad’s academies, Cairo’s libraries, and Cordoba’s schools once stirred the minds of the world. In those times, the Islamic world was the cradle of science, philosophy, spirituality, and scholarship. To journey toward the Arab lands in pursuit of knowledge was an honor.

But today, that once proud caravan of knowledge, which used to tread through the streets of Makkah and Madinah, seems lost in the corridors of Western institutions. The Qibla of intellectual life has shifted. Our languages, dress, thinking patterns—even our spiritual frameworks—have begun to mirror the West. History teaches us that subjugated nations tend to adopt the outward and inward traits of their colonizers, often wearing them as a badge of pride.

Today, Europe’s dominance extends far beyond economy, politics, or technology. A silent but powerful intellectual colonialism now governs global thought. Its deadliest weapon is the flood of atheism and materialism—a current that drowns not only faith but the very meaning of human existence. When a people begin to doubt the worth of their own civilization, they inevitably look outward for meaning. For human nature often mistakes power for truth.

The imitation of dominant cultures—be it in fashion, values, or intellectual pursuits—is not merely cultural mimicry. It is evidence of psychological defeat, spiritual hollowness, and a crisis of civilizational confidence. It signals a loss of faith in one’s own foundational beliefs.

Atheism: Denial of the Soul in the Name of Reason
Atheism, on the surface, appears to be a mere denial of God. But at its core, it is a deep-seated intellectual and existential crisis. The atheist declares, “There is no God,” yet this assertion is often rooted not in clarity, but in confusion—philosophical fallacies, spiritual deprivation, and a disoriented view of the self.

To claim that the universe is a product of chance is like suggesting a majestic palace came into existence without an architect, without a plan, and without a purpose. While reason is subject to the laws of nature, atheism seeks to liberate reason from all bounds—even from truth. When reason escapes the guiding light of revelation, it becomes fire rather than illumination.

Western atheism is often born from an unyielding faith in science—a belief that reason alone can determine right and wrong. But can intellect truly discern morality? If everything must be weighed on the scale of reason, what becomes of love, sacrifice, beauty, or transcendence? Can logic explain why our eyes tear up during the adhan or when we touch the blood-stained soil of a martyr?

Materialism: A Human Being Reduced to Flesh and Neurons
Materialism may not outright deny God, but it erases Him from relevance. The materialist sees life as a mere biological function, the universe as a chemical accident, and human beings as walking sacks of protein and neurons. In this worldview, the human being is stripped of dignity, purpose, and transcendence.

If there is no beyond, then ethics is an illusion, love is a hormonal reaction, and death is simply a mechanical shutdown. Whether a person lives or dies ceases to matter. This is the dark destination of materialism: life without meaning, death without direction, and existence without worth.

Zandaqah: When the Mind is Secular but the Tongue Recites the Creed
What is most alarming is that this flood has not only submerged secular societies but is now trickling into the intellectual veins of Muslim societies as well. Many of us still pray, fast, and preach—yet our way of thinking, our definitions of success, and our philosophical frameworks have quietly adopted Western ideals.

This is zandaqah—a schizophrenic state of faith, where one outwardly professes belief but inwardly places trust in materialism, humanism, or systemic structures instead of God. The zindiq is not someone who publicly disowns Islam, but someone who cloaks disbelief within a religious identity. He performs rituals of worship yet sees faith as an obstacle in intellectual spaces.

Zandaqah is the poisoned fusion of atheism and materialism, dressed in the garb of religiosity. It nourishes disbelief while covering it in the language of tradition. It is more dangerous than open disbelief, for it creeps in quietly and corrodes the soul from within.

The Way Forward: Conscious Resistance to a Spiritual Crisis
The ideological storm of atheism and materialism will not be countered through emotional sloganeering or superficial sermons. If we rely only on external piety and hollow rhetoric, this flood will consume our minds, societies, and future generations.

What we need today is a dignified and deliberate resistance—rooted in deep faith, rational inquiry, sincere scholarship, and practical effort. We need an approach that is grounded, accessible, and empowering for every conscious believer. A resistance that whispers to the heart: “Yes, I can do this. This is within my reach.”

Step One: Rebuild your inner worldview. Take a few moments each day to step back from your routine and reflect on life’s fundamental questions: Who am I? Why do I exist? What is the purpose behind this orderly universe? Is someone watching over me? These are not abstract musings for philosophers—they are the beating heart of every awakened soul. They spark the journey from doubt to conviction.

Step Two: Reconnect with the Qur’an beyond mere recitation. Engage with one verse a day, along with its translation and interpretation. Reflect on how it speaks to your personal struggles, your mental state, your aspirations. The Qur’an must transition from a ceremonial object to a living guide—one that sheds divine light on everyday life.

Step Three: Learn your faith through reason. Today’s youth do not respond to blind emotion—they seek logic, analysis, and clarity. Start reading basic yet rational books on Islamic theology and philosophy. Even one chapter a week can transform your foundation. Contemporary scholars like Mufti Taqi Usmani, Dr. Raziul Islam Nadwi, Dr. Israr Ahmed, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, and Maulana Sadiq Potrik provide excellent resources for this purpose.

Step Four: Promote dialogue. When a child or teenager asks, “Where is Allah?”, or “Why should I try if destiny is already written?”, don’t shut them down. Praise their curiosity. Begin a conversation. And if you don’t know the answer, say honestly, “Let’s search for it together.” That humble conversation may be the most powerful defense against disbelief—and it was the method of the Prophet ﷺ himself.

Step Five: Don’t ignore the digital realm. Ideas now travel through Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, and social media posts. Even if just once a week, share a reflection, a quote, or a short video that speaks of faith, wonder, and truth. It need not be long—just meaningful enough to spark a question or light a spark. Remember: disbelief spreads not through hate but through emptiness. Fill that emptiness with meaning, beauty, and clarity.

Step Six: Find good company. Every soul needs a friend, elder, or mentor to offer spiritual and intellectual support. If none is available in person, adopt the writings, lectures, or thoughts of great minds as companions. The soul, like the body, needs nourishing relationships to stay alive.

The ideological deluge of atheism and materialism will not be stopped by mourning its arrival. It will be stopped by lighting candles—one heart, one mind, one soul at a time. And those candles lie in the hands of those who weep in silent prostration by night, and who stand in the daylight defending faith—not just with emotion, but with conviction, clarity, and courage.