FAQs
WhyNotIslam.net is operated by Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), an organization of former Muslims that advocates for the rights of ex-Muslim atheists and agnostics in the US and abroad. We seek to normalize religious dissent in Muslim communities, remove the stigma of leaving the faith, and push for the repeal of blasphemy and apostasy laws in Muslim-majority countries.
For more information, visit us at exmuslims.org.
Many Muslims are unaware of what Islam teaches about the issues we address here. As ex-Muslims, we know the mental anguish that comes from discovering troubling aspects of the religion we were raised in, especially when those aspects conflict with personal beliefs about morality and truth.
This site offers questioning Muslims a place to confront these realities without the hyperbole or apologetics that often surround such discussions.
The 2014 Religious Landscape Study by Pew Research Center found that 23%, or nearly 1 in 4, of American adults raised Muslim no longer identify with the faith. Because of the severe social consequences of expressing doubt or leaving Islam, the true figure is likely higher. We use the phrase “1 in 4” to reflect both those counted in the survey and the silent doubters who go unreported.
No. Islam is a belief system made up of ideas, and ideas, whether good or bad, are subject to scrutiny. Neither Muslims nor Islam constitute a race.
The term Islamophobia is misleading because it conflates criticism of Islam (a religion) with bigotry against Muslims (people). This framing makes it nearly impossible to critique the religion without being unfairly labeled as hateful.
EXMNA advocates for the more precise term anti-Muslim bigotry, which identifies genuine prejudice and discrimination against Muslims while still protecting the right to critique Islam as part of free speech. We oppose both anti-Muslim bigotry and efforts to censor good-faith criticism of religious ideas.
You don’t have to. We encourage anyone grappling with what they read here to also consult Islamic scholars and leaders to see how interpretations have shifted over time.
For example, traditional justifications for wife-beating, punishing homosexuality, and executing apostates have fractured in the face of secularism, liberalism, and scientific advances. This undermines the Qur’an’s claim to be the timeless, universal word of Allah.
Our goal is not to replace Islamic scholarship but to raise questions and foster necessary conversations. Any religion claiming to be the perfect and final word of God should withstand honest scrutiny. We affirm that everyone has the right to seek truth and follow their conscience, free from religious or societal coercion.
No. This website does not exist to convert or recruit anyone. Ex-Muslims of North America is a secular, nonpartisan organization and is not affiliated with any faith. Our goal is to provide information and perspectives that many Muslims are discouraged from exploring. We believe that people should be free to question religion, consider the evidence, and make their own choices. Whether someone chooses to remain Muslim, leave Islam, or adopt another worldview is a personal decision. Our role is simply to defend the right to question and to offer resources for those who are already doubting.
The Qur’an is regarded by Muslims as the inerrant word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad over a period of more than 20 years and preserved without alteration. By contrast, the Hadith were compiled decades to centuries after Muhammad’s death. Islamic scholars classify Hadith into categories such as sahih (most reliable) and weaker grades like da’if (unreliable) based on their chain of narration. This system of classification has created wide disagreements, since the same issue can often be argued both for and against using different Hadith. As a result, critics and defenders of Islam alike frequently engage in selective use, highlighting Hadith that support their perspective while dismissing contradictory ones. For this reason, our critique focuses on the Qur’an, which is universally recognized within Islam as perfect.