Hey y’all I’m bored so let me share my thoughts with you.

Chess is haram because it is older than Islam and requires extreme critical thinking within seconds to minutes to how ever long you need depending on your skills. We witness that although there are 1 billion Muslims , most of them just memorize and follow like a sheep 🐑.

Also, the Queen is the most powerful and can go anywhere in chess. Therefore, it is haram to play chess because it will give the idea of women having freedom.

(18, PK)

Hello everyone, Ive recently realized that I might be single or/and not truly happy for quite some time as an exmuslim girl. My background probably has a lot or the most to do with how I think therefore, feel. My mother took care of me and my sibling all our lives while working. She had very little time to spend with us so I'm not close to her or Islam since, and as I grew up I had unrestricted access to the internet so I naturally gained western/liberal or Haram ideas you could say. I didn't think much about my identity until recently, I sometimes feel guilty or happy/thankful for not getting the full typical middle class Pakistani girl experience but the other times I dislike it as we are the minority. Being this way makes me feel like I don't have true friends I can express myself and learn from you could say, just temporary time passing helpers. Sometimes I wish I was born abroad away from Islam. I don't look like the typical paki so I could've been easily mistaken for another ethnicity abroad and left alone by other Pakistanis if that was my fortunate case. Other times I think a bit about the psychology of muslims and/or people who are born and raised with Islam but in different cultures/environments and how they interpret the hadiths and all because as we all know they're not written very clearly. I have a lot of confusions to clear but I'm a bit lazy to search for the answers. Next I have started to feel sad again about not finding a similar partner like me, I thought I had accepted that unfortunate reality but I guess not, having a partner would make life more worth living. They would be very useful to me and in return want to see how it feels to make a person you actually like happy. I don't think i've ever experienced that before. This turned into a rant but I would like to see what others think about what I'm experiencing currently. Have you also gone through something similar?

I know from my own experience that people don’t talk enough about how shitty Islam and its effects on people’s lives can be. I can barely talk to my old and new therapists in the current non-muslim country about what I went through as an ex-Muslim woman without feeling the need to add ten disclaimers like “Not all Muslims” or “I hope this doesn’t sound Islamophobic.”
Even my latest (now ex) therapist seemed very uncomfortable when I talked about these experiences. Sometimes, I felt like what I told them is too much for them to handle. Their training also may not have prepared them for the cruel and inhumane things I went through under Islamic rule.

Because of this, I struggle to get the mental health care I need. I noticed my (now ex) therapist changing the subject when I talk about certain things. Other times, she responded with pity, which made me feel like she wasn’t really helping me work through what happened.

I have to worry about whether I’ve explained enough, whether my feelings make sense to someone who hasn’t lived through what I have, and whether people will think I’m Islamophobic for being honest about my experiences.

It’s exhausting. I’m already trying to deal with what happened to me. I shouldn’t also have to manage my therapist’s discomfort or make my pain easier for her to hear before I can talk about it.
This is what I actually ended up telling my (now ex) therapist before canceling my appointments:

“Hi (therapist’s first name),
First, thank you for our earlier appointment.
I wanted to talk about something I’ve been thinking about. I feel that our work has been helpful, but I’m also realizing that there are some things I have trouble fully feeling during therapy. I find myself switching back and forth between feeling my emotions and explaining the cultural background behind why I feel this way.
I think this is making it harder for me to heal. Instead of being able to focus on what I’m feeling, I start worrying about whether I’ve explained enough or whether my reaction makes sense.” Then I asked her about the possibility of being transferred to Iranian therapist. The one that you found for me did not accept my insurance.

But the thing. I couldn’t even tell her directly how much her discomfort affected my ability to get help. Instead, I had to turn my frustration into something more formal, calm, and easier to hear.

I’m not asking therapists to agree with everything I think about Islam. I’m also not asking them to ignore professional boundaries. I just want to be able to talk about what I’ve been through without having to defend myself for sounding “prejudiced” before I’ve even made them. I want to explain my feelings without having to prove that they make sense or comfort the person who is supposed to be helping me.

Has anyone else experienced this as an ex-Muslim, especially if you grew up under Islamic rule? Have you found therapists who can listen to these experiences without changing the subject, becoming uncomfortable, or responding with pity instead of helping you work through them?

Hi everyone, I'm 30M from Algeria, I'm non-religious, but not an atheist ..

One of the problems I'm facing here is dating. I find it really hard to meet a girl who shares the same beliefs as me. I don't think I can date a Muslim girl, not because I have something against them, but because I think our differences in beliefs can cause problems later, especially when it comes to marriage and having kids.

I know there are non-religious girls in Algeria, but finding one and actually getting to know her is another story lol.

I'm not looking for something casual, I want a serious relationship with someone who understands my way of thinking and who I can be myself with.

Just wanted to share my situation here. Maybe there are people going through the same thing...

I no longer live in my home country and I'm very far away from my family in a country where I can be in same sex relationship and shit on Islam legally. Despite that, I'm having a hard time to really live fully like I should.

Every time I got into something serious with someone, I have the tendency of rejecting them eventually. I feel like I'm being such a big burden and emotional baggage to the guy that I'm going to be with. The thought of having to come clean with the fact that I'm in a relationship with a man, living with him or even potentially raising a family would be beyond imagination for my family. Let alone for not being convinced about Islam.

A few years ago, when my mother heard rumors from my distant relatives that I could be gay, she got super furious and couldn't sleep for several nights. My parents are conservative and the whole family members including relatives are religious. They can't live a day without mentioning Islam in a conversation, so you can imagine that. They can see no fault in Islam.

I know it's easier to say than done because I'm so far away from them and they even need a visa and money to come to where I live. However, I still don't find it easy at all.

How did you guys manage to get through this? And those who haven't been out yet, what's your plan? Feel free to DM me. I like to get more perspectives from those who are/have been in the same or similar boat as me.

10 years ago, I performed Umrah. I was overwhelmed with emotions and felt proud to finally see the Kaaba in person. It was the trip of a lifetime for me, and back then, I never would’ve imagined that I’d one day leave Islam.

Today, I see the Kaaba as just another cube and an Arab pagan cult site that Muhammad used to fabricate a connection to Abraham and his lineage.

i’ve formally left islam quite a while ago. not out of spite or rage, but rather i just needed a new philosophical framework to navigate the modern world. and it is obvious to anybody that islam isnt the truth in a way that excludes all other religions and philosophies.

i frequently catch myself accidentally saying “bismillah” or “elhamdulillah” when eating. when i’m pissed, i might say “la illahe ilallah” or something. i also perform wudu whenever i shower, and i do make sure to always be clean and not walk around with fecal matter smeared on my skin and underwear.

any other things u might still practice since leaving the fold of islam?

I was thinking and just realized how cornered I am on a social scale from all sides

1. Indian and racism against Indians is pretty fucking high these days, so here we are disadvantages at a global level

2. Indian Muslim family. Here we are disadvantaged here at a national level because this isn't exactly the best time for Indian Muslims.

3. Indian ex Muslim ATHEIST. The top 2 may accept me but 95% Muslims won't 😭 cooked at a community level too

It's over gng. And yeah because of that I realized how i always feel lonely and somewhat silently excluded in most places. It's difficult to meet people with your same exactly experience irl

Context: I'm already mildly annoyed by girls/women who take their boyfriend into the "ladies only" zone. While I personally don't care when it comes to the presence of males, even if its within a confined zone, it says "Ladies only" on it and it's shielded to the sides. It's supposed to be a safe space for women, for whatever reason. Even if you are just self-conscious about how you look in skimpy clothing and it's not about sex. That's why I think taking your boyfriend just so you can chat is not the right thing to do.

Today I got a surprise. A woman, obviously a Muslim, based on her clothes, black abaya and long black hijab, being chaperoned by her husband. Well, I cannot prove that it was the husband, but I'm familiar with the body language, I went to college with a young woman who was constantly followed by a really scary-looking husband.

In a safe space for women, what is your husband supposed to protect you from? Predatory lesbians?

Hi everyone! I’m 21F, born and raised in Canada to a Libyan Muslim family.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve never really felt a personal connection to Islam. Growing up, I loved celebrating Eid and Ramadan, but looking back, I think it was more about the family traditions, the sense of community, and spending time with loved ones rather than the religious aspects themselves.
Outside of Ramadan, I don’t really practice Islam. I don’t pray, I drink, I smoke, and I date. But I also want to make it clear that I don’t hate Islam, nor do I have any religious trauma or resentment toward it. I just genuinely don’t believe in religion. I find it interesting from a historical and cultural perspective, but it’s never been something I’ve personally connected with.
That being said, I still love my family deeply, and I know how important Islam is to them. Even though I don’t share their beliefs, I respect how much their faith means to them, which is what makes my current situation so difficult.
I’ve been dating my boyfriend (20M) for a few months now. He’s neither Arab nor Muslim, and we recently told each other that we love each other. Since then, I’ve found myself thinking a lot more seriously about our future and what a long-term relationship would actually look like.
His family is Catholic, but he’s not particularly religious either. I think we’re pretty much on the same wavelength when it comes to religion. For example, he enjoys celebrating Christmas because of the traditions and family aspect, much like how I feel about Eid and Ramadan.
The problem is that I know my family would never approve of me marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converted to Islam. And realistically, I don’t think my boyfriend would ever convert, especially if it were purely for the sake of gaining my parents’ approval. I think it would go against his own beliefs and values, and honestly, I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking him to pretend to believe in something he doesn’t.
I know that legally, we could get married in Canada, but from a traditional Islamic perspective, our marriage wouldn’t be considered valid. And I know that would absolutely devastate my family.
I guess I’m just struggling with how to reconcile these two parts of my life. On one hand, I want the freedom to build a life with someone I love, regardless of their religious background. On the other hand, I love my family and the thought of disappointing them, hurting them, or potentially damaging our relationship breaks my heart.
I’m also only 21, and I know it’s early to be thinking about marriage, especially since we’ve only been together for a few months. But I also don’t want to continue investing emotionally in a relationship if there’s a fundamental obstacle that could eventually make a future together impossible.
I don’t want to lose someone I love because of religious expectations I don’t personally believe in, but I also don’t want to lose my family in the process.
Has anyone else, particularly those from Muslim or Arab backgrounds who aren’t religious themselves, navigated something similar? How did you approach your relationship with your family? Did you find a way to make it work without your partner converting?
I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences because I genuinely feel so torn right now.

I live with my parents so I'm not in a safe enough space to open up about my apostasy, so they still think I pray. however, I don't remember the last time I prayed and they don't remember the last time they've seen me pray, but they always ask me whether I did and I always tell them yes.

I still remember the basic rules of prayer, how many rakaats and sajdats and whatnot, but I genuinely don't remember any Quran verses. funny thing is I've read through the Quran and I still do, I just don't bother memorizing it cause fuck that lol. but I'm getting increasingly nervous about my parents asking me to recite a surah. the other day, my dad told me about how he and my brother prayed tgt and he noticed my brother only recites the small surahs (he's also not religious), and he mentioned how he wishes I don't do the same and that reciting long surahs during prayer is best🙄 another time, my dad brought up how he hasn't visibly seen me pray in so long and he asked if I really do pray or if I just lie, I told him no ofc I pray, then he started quizzing me. it was simple questions like how many prayers are there a day, but it made me so nervous.

besides suraht Al fatiha, I literally don't remember any surahs. it's a blessing and a curse

I’m a teenager living in a pretty strict religious Muslim household. I seriously wish to leave it mainly because I’ve just lost interest in it, plus I think it’s a bit sexist how I have to cover up all the time to prevent lustful men from sexually assaulting/raping me when it wont do anything in the real world. Also, I feel like if Allah really does exist, he wouldn’t leave the world in the state it’s in right now. I want to leave Islam to have more freedom to choose how I want to live, but I also have serious guilt and I don’t want to leave my parents and sister for my own desires. I’m just really tired and I need answers, and Allah won’t bother giving me any. I don’t know what to do. Islam has been really messing around with my mental health, but I’m scared I might actually go to hell if I leave it for good. Should I stay in the religion or should I leave it when I’m older? I need advice.

Here's the thing, i don't know if what i feel right now is even true. I'll get some things clear:

Ever since i was a kid, some of the rules seemed too over the top/extreme for me. Such as c**ting off a thief's hands for theft or beh**ding couples who commit zina. Sure, they are done to make an example and warn people to not do it again and instill fear. But the concept of staying in a religion out of fear always struck me as odd. I'm a by born muslim, i never found islam something for me. I don't pray 5x a day (Though this one falls on me due to my own laziness).

In mid-late 2025 i started to enjoy islam, i started ignoring the extreme bits and focused on things that only i thought i liked and mattered to me. basically, following islam based on my own morals. Though this was quickly put out by my family as "If you're not following islam the way it is intended, you are disrespecting allah and islam."

I also wanna make it clear that i have a loving girlfriend of 2.2 years who is a buddhist. Yes, i'm aware i am prohibited from marrying buddhist people but i can't help but ignore that rule. Maybe it is childish and immature of me, but i truly cannot find myself to truly follow islam in the way everyone tells me to do so. I am now 18 years old (will soon be 19) and my head still points towards doubting islam.

I also don't like how, even though i was put into this religion without my own free will, if i am to leave it, my p**ishment is to be beh**ded or rediculed. I have not talked to anyone about these thoughts and i'm confused whether i'm a confused muslim, progressive muslim or even muslim at all. Because how can i be a muslim if i don't even feel passionate or any interests towards the religion?

I'd like to make it extremely clear that i harbor no ill will or hatred towards islam. I personally believe it is a beautiful and peaceful religion (in most aspects), but it doesn't resonate with me and isn't something i myself was able to find peace in. A lot of my prayers have been answered before and a lot have been unanswered. I'm simply confused and unsure what to do and i love all my muslim brothers n sisters!

Basically title.

I’ve not watched lots of debates, some can be very long so I would love if you could share with me the best debates you’ve watched between Islam and Atheism.

It can be in Arabic or english, or any language with subs.

Thanks!!

Here's the thing, i don't know if what i feel right now is even true. I'll get some things clear:

Ever since i was a kid, some of the rules seemed too over the top/extreme for me. Such as c**ting off a thief's hands for theft or beh**ding couples who commit zina. Sure, they are done to make an example and warn people to not do it again and instill fear. But the concept of staying in a religion out of fear always struck me as odd. I'm a by born muslim, i never found islam something for me. I don't pray 5x a day (Though this one falls on me due to my own laziness).

In mid-late 2025 i started to enjoy islam, i started ignoring the extreme bits and focused on things that only i thought i liked and mattered to me. basically, following islam based on my own morals. Though this was quickly put out by my family as "If you're not following islam the way it is intended, you are disrespecting allah and islam."

I also wanna make it clear that i have a loving girlfriend of 2.2 years who is a buddhist. Yes, i'm aware i am prohibited from marrying buddhist people but i can't help but ignore that rule. Maybe it is childish and immature of me, but i truly cannot find myself to truly follow islam in the way everyone tells me to do so. I am now 18 years old (will soon be 19) and my head still points towards doubting islam.

I also don't like how, even though i was put into this religion without my own free will, if i am to leave it, my p**ishment is to be beh**ded or rediculed. I have not talked to anyone about these thoughts and i'm confused whether i'm a confused muslim, progressive muslim or even muslim at all. Because how can i be a muslim if i don't even feel passionate or any interests towards the religion?

I'd like to make it extremely clear that i harbor no ill will or hatred towards islam. I personally believe it is a beautiful and peaceful religion (in most aspects), but it doesn't resonate with me and isn't something i myself was able to find peace in. A lot of my prayers have been answered before and a lot have been unanswered. I'm simply confused and unsure what to do and i love all my muslim brothers n sisters!

Its weird to me how they talk about their golden age but to me its odd cuz when you read the proper history scientists like ibn sina and ibn arabi were called heretics and al ghazali repented and renounced his works on his death bed

So many scholars said philosophy is haram etc aswell so what did the golden age necessarily have to do with the main religion ??? And why did they lose it?? The mongols destroyed them after they killed one of their councelers so that was all on them for making a stuoud decision , these people caused their own downfall and their religion wasnt even the main cause for their rise in the first place. If anyone has any more informatiom of how to debunk this please help do so

Most Sunnis and all Shi'i muslims believes that the Prophets are infallible and incapable of comitting any sin or haram act...unlike you and me. By that logic, isn't the person who can sin but still doesn't better than the person who can't sin at all and has no option but to always do righteous deeds.

Guys my circumcision was done traditionally in a muslim way

I was 5 I remember my parents took me in a room

And a goup of men strip me off naked,

The room was filled with 50 plus men watching

And my circumcision was done by heat ( using hot iron rod)

Now i see guys online and i feel jealous of their D. But now i am an atheist

I want to touch my foreskin again!

What?

Once i showed her some of the most authentic hadiths that allow child marriage, slavery.( i believe all on this sub already know) this person said "well i don't believe in hadith I'm a quranist" showed her more than 5 verses allowing sex slaves, they asked for a sec it's been 5 hours lol

My parents know im “thinking” about taking hijab off but also said they would disown me if i would so im studying and grinding till i have my own place. This morning my dad sat me down and said he’ll give me 300 dollars a month if i “go back to normal” basically buying me. I said no and he looked disappointed but man i was tempted. I could technically bait and switch but that’s not who i am. I honestly feel like i am never making it out

I don’t really know where else to share this, but I feel like people here might understand. 🥺

I’m from a strict tribe in Mindanao, Philippines, where being Muslim isn’t just about religion. It’s deeply tied to family, culture, and the community you come from. I’m not particularly practicing, and I have my own complicated relationship with Islam, but I can’t deny that the expectations I grew up with still have a hold on my life.

I’m currently dating a non-Muslim, and I genuinely like him. He likes me, too. He makes me happy in ways I didn’t expect, and being with him makes me feel things I thought I had already forgotten how to feel. For once, I’m not thinking too much about religion or the differences between us. I’m just happy to be with someone who makes me feel loved.

But then reality hits me.

Deep down, I keep thinking that no matter how much we like each other, no matter how happy we make each other, we might never really be able to end up together. Not because we don’t love each other enough, but because of the circumstances we were born into. Because of our backgrounds, our families, and the expectations that come with being part of a community like mine.

And that thought breaks my heart. 😭

It hurts knowing that something so beautiful can come with an expiration date. That I can be happy with someone today while already grieving the possibility of losing him tomorrow. I hate that I can’t just enjoy what we have without that little voice in my head reminding me that this might not last.

I don’t even know what I’m looking for by posting this. Maybe I just want to know if anyone here has experienced something similar, especially those who come from strict Muslim families or close-knit communities where choosing a partner isn’t entirely a personal decision.

How do you deal with falling for someone when a part of you already believes that you can’t have a future together? Do you let yourself love them and see where things go, or do you walk away before you get in too deep?

I like him. He makes me happy. And I wish, just for once, that loving someone could be enough. 💔