We Are Not Born Atheists

In Islam, it is believed that all humans are born in a state of submission to the one true God, a concept that traces back to the creation of humanity, starting with Adam. According to Islamic teachings, the souls of all humans were created before their physical bodies, during a time that predates the world we live in. In this pre-worldly state, all souls testified to the oneness of God, acknowledging Him as the only Creator and Sustainer. This event, mentioned in the Qur’an (7:172), reflects the moment when God gathered all souls and asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” to which every soul replied, “Yes.” This acknowledgment signifies their natural submission to God, which is the essence of being a Muslim, The Arabic terms “Islam” and “Muslim” mean “submission” and “one who submits,” respectively. This pre-earthly submission to the oneness of God is considered the origin of Islam for every individual. It is not based on following Adam specifically, but rather the universal and innate submission that each soul expressed in its pre-existence before entering the physical world. Though this pre-birth experience of submission is a matter of faith and cannot be proven or disproven empirically, it serves as the foundation for the belief that all human beings are born Muslim. This concept is significant in Islam as it emphasizes the natural inclination of every soul toward the oneness of God and the inherent submission to Him. The article will explore this belief, explaining its basis in Islamic teachings and its implications in understanding the relationship between God and humanity.

📖Quran 7:172-174
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware Or [lest] you say, “It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?” And thus do We [explain in] detail the verses, and perhaps they will return.

📖Sahih Muslim 2659 a
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The mother of every person gives him birth according to his true nature. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian. Had his parents been Muslim he would have also remained a Muslim.

In this hadith from Sahih Muslim, the phrase “true nature” refers to a person’s innate disposition or fitrah. It suggests that when a person is born, they have a natural inclination toward the belief in God or monotheism Quran 7:172-174. Therefore if a child were left to grow up without any external influences, they would instinctively recognize and worship the one true God. However, the hadith also emphasizes the role of parental upbringing and societal influences, suggesting that a person’s religious identity is often shaped by their upbringing and environment.

 

📖Quran 30:30-31
So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of God. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know – [Adhere to it], turning in repentance to Him, and fear Him and establish prayer and do not be of those who associate others with God .

1. The verse Quran 30:30-31, is about the natural, unalterable state in which Allah has created all human beings—the fitrah, or innate disposition. This fitrah is the fundamental recognition and acceptance of the oneness of God. The verse advises people to stay true to this original nature, to turn towards Allah in repentance, and to fear Him by establishing prayer and avoiding polytheism. Some non-Muslims misinterpret this verse, suggesting it implies that Muslim practices or circumstances change God’s creation. However, the verse actually refers to the immutable nature of the creation in which God made humans, specifically their initial recognition of His oneness. The change mentioned is not in God’s creation itself but in the choices humans make as they grow and sometimes stray from this inherent truth by adopting other gods or beliefs. The verse calls for a return to this unchanging natural state, acknowledging God’s oneness and living in accordance with the truth that was originally instilled in every soul.

How to determine that we all born as Muslims

In Islam, it is believed that every child is born as a Muslim, which means they are naturally inclined to submit or surrender to the will of God. This concept is derived from the idea that all souls, before being born into this world, have already acknowledged and submitted to God. However, as they grow up in a particular family or community, they are influenced by the beliefs and teachings of their parents, who may introduce them to various religious traditions, deities, or philosophies. For example, a child born into a Hindu family may grow up believing in the gods like Ram, Krishna, or Shiva, while a child born into a Christian family may be taught about Jesus. These religious teachings shape the child’s understanding of the world, often from a very young age. But before any external influence, a newborn does not possess knowledge of any specific deity or religious figure; they are naturally inclined to seek a Creator and understand that there is something beyond this world. If a child is not taught any particular belief, they may wonder about the universe’s creation and intuitively recognize the existence of a higher power, even if they have never seen or heard about specific gods or religious stories. However, as individuals grow older, the beliefs they are taught can cloud their natural inclination toward submission to the One Creator. Many people, due to the influence of their upbringing, choose to align themselves with the stories and deities their families have taught them. This can lead to various religious affiliations or, in some cases, a rejection of belief altogether, such as atheism. Despite this, the idea in Islam is that every individual is born with a natural inclination to believe in the One God, but the environment and teachings they receive shape their beliefs and worldview as they grow.

📖Quran 98:1-4
Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from misbelief] until there came to them clear evidence – A Messenger from God, reciting purified scriptures, Within which are correct writings. Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence.

In this verse, God says He sent messengers to every nation. It is important to note that many messengers’ names were not mentioned in the Quran. The passage in this verse refers to those upon whom error was deservedly decreed. It’s about the disbelievers to whom Allah sent messengers, but they Continuously rejected the prophets & messengers and created corruption in the land. There are many other verses in the Quran that mention their disbelief, and God also punished them.

📖Quran 42:13-14
He God has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]. And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.

Example 2:

Imagine you are in a perilous situation, perhaps stranded in the wilderness or facing imminent danger. In that moment, despite your past beliefs, you find yourself instinctively calling out to a higher power for help. The recognition of the unseen God is innate within you, as the Qur’an states in 57:4, “He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then He rose above the Throne. He knows what goes into the earth and what comes out of it, what descends from the heavens and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you may be.” This acknowledgment of God’s presence is not something new but has always existed within you, even before you entered this world. Your instinct to call upon the unseen God at such a moment is a reflection of this deep-rooted belief.

📖Quran 10:22-23
It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from everywhere and they assume that they are surrounded, supplicating Allah (God) , sincere to Him in religion, “If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful. But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves, [being merely] the enjoyment of worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.

📖Quran 29:65-66
Sahih International
And when they board a ship, they supplicate God , sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him – So that they will deny what We have granted them, and they will enjoy themselves. But they are going to know.

Why Does God Allow Other Religions to Exist?

God allows the existence of other religions because it’s part of the free will He gave us. Humans themselves divided and created different religions and gods. For example, Christianity, as we know, Jesus never said anything about Christianity, nor did he tell his followers to call themselves Christians. Similarly, Prophet Abraham, Moses, and David never said that Judaism is a religion. The name “Judaism” comes from the kingdom of Judah; it’s not a religion, but a community. Other people called the tribe of Judah “Jewish” (Yudha), and that name eventually became “Judaism.” God never said that your religion is Judaism, nor did He say your religion is Christianity. The name “Christianity” came after Jesus; the pagans called the followers of Jesus “Christian.” All prophets came with Islamic revelation, which is submission to the one true God, known as Islam.

📖Quran 16:93
And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.

In this verse, the concept of free will is mentioned. Allah could have made all humans follow one religion, but instead, He granted humanity the free will to choose for themselves. In Quran 28:56, it’s mentioned that Allah guides those who seek guidance, and the passage also mentions that He causes to stray those whom He wills. This refers to those who deny even after the clear evidence; He leaves them on their misguided path. 👇

📖Qur’an 28:50
But if they do not respond to you – then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah ? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

📖Quran 23:52
And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.

Why Do We Need to Believe in Scripture?

We need to follow the original Scriptures. For example, to understand science, you must learn about it. Similarly, if you want to learn HTML, JavaScript coding, and other subjects, you need to study them. In the same way, God has given us Scripture and told us why He created us and the universe. Scripture guide us on what is good or bad for us, much like learning to cook involves understanding the ingredients and spices required. Without Scriptures, how would you comprehend the reasons behind God’s creation?

📖Quran 2:185
The Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.

📖Quran 6:116
And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah . They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying.

What if Someone Doesn’t Know About the Scriptures?

In Islam, according to the Quran, Allah states that He does not punish anyone until He sends messengers to them. The future generations come to know about these messengers through revelations. According to the Quran, God has sent messengers to every nation from the beginning. Therefore, if someone is not aware of any scriptures, God will not punish them.

📖Quran 17:15
And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.

Did Islam Exist from the Beginning?

We have already included many reference in this article that Islam means submission to the will of God, which means obeying Him. We have also included that if anyone truly hasn’t received any revelation, God will not punish them. Islam existed from the beginning; it was with God, and He gave the name to mankind when He sent Adam and Eve to the Earth. So, from that time, Islam existed, and God sent many messengers from the beginning. Those who followed the original message were all Muslims.

📖Quran 56-10-14
And the forerunners, the forerunners – Those are the ones brought near [to Allah ] In the Gardens of Pleasure, A [large] company of the former peoples, And a few of the later peoples –

How Do We Know Which Scriptures Are Real?

It’s important to note that God sent many messengers with revelations to every nation from the beginning. Today, what we have as scriptures, such as the Torah, the Gospel, and other religious texts, was written down centuries later. There are thousands of contradictions in these scriptures due to changes made by people over time, leading to the creation of different religions and gods. If you read the Bible today, you’ll find many verses mentioning that Jesus was sent by God, but modern Christians believe in the Trinity, which isn’t explicitly in the Bible. We’ve also written articles on this platform; you can read them to decide for yourself which scripture is authentic. It’s also mentioned in the Quran that previous scriptures, like the Torah and Gospel, have been distorted. However, the coming of Prophet Muhammad is still present in the current Bible, as we believe some parts of it might be true. God also tells us that these scriptures have been altered.

Why God Cannot Take Human Form?

The concept of God being beyond human comprehension and not coming into the world in human form can be explained through a few key ideas:

1. God’s Infinite Presence: God’s essence transcends all physical limitations. He is present everywhere through His knowledge, power, and will. If God were to manifest in a specific form, such as a human, it would imply a limitation on His omnipresence, which contradicts the idea of His infinite and unchanging nature. The purpose of life is to allow humans to exercise free will, learn, grow, and develop, and for this, God’s presence in the world in a literal form would render these opportunities unnecessary. The test of life, as per divine wisdom, is about choices and striving for righteousness while being unaware of the full extent of God’s presence.
2. God’s Purity and Beyond Creation: The idea that God could take on a human form raises questions: why can’t God take on a Satan form? It doesn’t make sense because God is pure, beyond change, and unlike any of His creations. He is not limited by time, space, or any form of existence within creation, and no human can fathom His true nature. If God were to become human, it would imply a limitation or imperfection in His divinity. God is not part of creation, but rather the Creator, and is distinct from all that He has made — angels, humans, animals, and even the concept of good and evil (such as Satan). To imagine God in human form or in the image of any creation would be a misunderstanding of His transcendent nature.
3. The Problem of Contradictions: If God were to come in human form, it would create logical and theological contradictions. For example, if a divine being in human form were to die, who would remain in heaven? In Christian belief, when Jesus died, they refer to Him as the Son of God, but this raises questions about God’s eternal nature. How can an eternal, unchanging God die or leave His creation? These contradictions suggest that the understanding of God coming in a human form doesn’t align with the laws of nature and divine consistency. God’s unchangeable nature is what makes Him beyond the need to take human form, for He exists independently of creation and cannot be limited by it.

The essence of God’s being is beyond human understanding or imagining. His existence is not about physical presence or form but about an omnipotent, omniscient force that governs and sustains all things. The idea that God cannot come into this world is not about a limitation on God’s power, but rather a reflection of His transcendence, purity, and the nature of the divine plan, which preserves the balance of free will, the purpose of life, and the recognition that He is beyond all creation.

Can Jews and Christians enter heaven?

Absolutely! According to Quran 5:69, those who embrace the core monotheistic message, regardless of whether they identify as Christians, Jews, or Sabians, can be welcomed into heaven. It is important to note that Qur’an 5:69 refers to the former people who followed the original Torah and Gospel. Therefore, the significance lies in their genuine faith, not just labels. By aligning with the original teachings, they cast aside fear and sorrow. The designations ‘Christian’ and ‘Jewish’ don’t exclusively denote divinely accepted faiths; they’re more like identifiers. For instance, even if someone identifies as a Christian but upholds belief in Allah and all the prophets mentioned in the Quran (Quran 2:62), they’re eligible for heaven. It’s because their unwavering belief in one God leads them to submit and follow His guidance, embodying the essence of Islam. The labels ‘Christian’ or ‘Jewish’ are secondary in this context.