The Legacy of Islam: A Journey Towards True Liberation

The Legacy of Islam: A Journey Towards True Liberation

Introduction: Why Do Atheists Fail to Establish a Strong Presence?

I have long wondered why atheists fail to establish a strong and influential presence that grants them their true value as individuals liberated from Islam. Why are they not at the forefront of civilization, contributing to its progress, advancing knowledge, and refining human behavior based on modern principles?

These questions took me back to the day I officially declared my atheism, after years of research into Islamic heritage. My journey took me from political Islam to Sufism, then to deism, until I finally freed myself completely from the concept of God and embraced absolute faith in humanity—with all its virtues and flaws. I especially came to appreciate humanity’s eternal pursuit of perfection, which it can never fully attain because the universe itself is eternal, and reaching an endpoint means ceasing to exist.

When I announced my atheism in 1998, I felt an exhilarating sense of absolute freedom, believing I had become a truly liberated and civilized person. But soon, cracks began to appear in this mosaic. Less than a year later, I realized that atheism alone was not enough to rid me of the ignorance that Islam had instilled in me.

Thus began my second journey, an even more profound and challenging one: analyzing the behaviors, ideas, and subconscious beliefs that Islam had embedded in me since childhood, in an effort to identify and purge the remnants that continued to weigh me down.

Islamic Residues That Hinder True Liberation

After years of introspection, I realized that many ex-Muslims still unconsciously retain patterns of thought and behavior that are rooted in Islam, even though they claim to have left the religion. Below are some of the most significant Islamic residues that must be eradicated to achieve true liberation.

1- The False Arab Identity: “I Am Arab”

Many North Africans mistakenly identify as Arabs, even though their true ancestry is Amazigh, Coptic, Phoenician, or Chaldean.

Islam promoted Arabization as both a religious and political tool, but historically, North Africa was never Arab—it was colonized and forcibly Arabized.

Recognizing and embracing one’s true heritage is the first step in breaking free from Islam because Islam and Arabization were part of the same project to erase indigenous cultures.

2- Hatred of Homosexuals

Many ex-Muslims still harbor hatred towards homosexuals, thinking that rejecting homosexuality affirms their masculinity or preserves their cultural identity.

But the reality is that homophobia is a deeply ingrained religious bias, one that contradicts both science and human rights. Anyone who claims to be liberated yet despises homosexuals is still mentally shackled by religious dogma.

3- Conspiracy Thinking: “The World Is Against Us”

Islamists always claim that the world conspires against them, and unfortunately, many ex-Muslims still cling to this mentality, believing that global forces are secretly working to prevent them from achieving progress.

This delusion falsely inflates their self-importance, but in reality, it prevents them from integrating into civilization and contributing to its advancement.

4- The Myth of “Working from Within”

Islam did not emerge as an internal reform movement, but rather as a foreign-backed expansionist ideology that relied on external alliances.

Yet, many ex-Muslims insist on “working from within”, refusing external support—while every religious, sectarian, and political group (from Sunnis and Shias to Christians, Jews, and Communists) readily receives international aid.

Why, then, do ex-Muslims reject external support? Is it ignorance? Or is it an ego-driven, false heroism that keeps them weak and marginalized?

5- The Obsession with “Parental Approval”

Some ex-Muslims refuse to openly declare their atheism to avoid upsetting their parents. But in reality, this is intellectual hypocrisy.

• When did deception become a virtue?
• When did lying to one’s family become an act of love?

True liberation begins by liberating one’s own family from ignorance—or at the very least, teaching them to respect you for who you truly are rather than who they want you to be.

6- “The End Justifies the Means”: Dishonesty and Manipulation

Muslims lie, distort facts, and fabricate stories to prove that Islam is true.

Unfortunately, some ex-Muslims adopt the same tactics, fabricating falsehoods to support their own beliefs.

But does intellectual freedom require deception? Or does an ex-Muslim who resorts to manipulation prove that they are no different from the Muslims they criticize?

7- False Masculinity: The Eastern Man’s Dilemma

Some ex-Muslims advocate for sexual freedom, yet when it comes to their own sisters, daughters, or female relatives, they suddenly revert to the traditional Middle Eastern mindset, demanding “modesty and discretion.”

This blatant hypocrisy stems from the deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset of Islam, which objectifies women and controls their sexuality. True liberation requires eradicating this toxic, male-dominated culture.

8- Contempt for Sex Workers: Religious Morality in Disguise

What is prostitution? It is the exchange of sex for compensation, whether money, status, or security.

Why do people sell their time, intellect, or labor without shame, yet sex work is condemned?

History has shown that societies with regulated, legal sex work tend to be happier and more productive—for both men and women.

9- Blind Hatred of Israel

Many ex-Muslims still parrot the Islamist anti-Israel narrative, despite claiming to have left Islam.

How are they different from Islamists if they repeat the same political propaganda without independent analysis?

Personally, I have my own nuanced stance on Israel, but it is based on rational debate and research, not inherited ideological hatred.

10- Psychological Schizophrenia: The Root of Muslim Hypocrisy

One of Islam’s most destructive legacies is deep psychological schizophrenia.

The Muslim says one thing and does another, living a double life between public expectation and private reality.

Unfortunately, many ex-Muslims still suffer from this disorder, pretending to be liberated while concealing their true beliefs out of social fear.

Conclusion: Towards Absolute Liberation

After 17 years of atheism, I have successfully freed myself from most of these residues and have realized that rejecting God alone is not enough. I had to purge my mind of the Bedouin-Islamic culture that shaped my consciousness.

I do not claim to be perfect, but I strive for absolute intellectual and personal freedom, free from all contradictions, inherited biases, and dogmatic conditioning.

This article is not just a personal reflection—it is an invitation for all ex-Muslims to critically examine their behaviorand actively eradicate the subconscious residues of Islam from their lives.

Because true liberation is not just about rejecting religion—it is about cleansing the mind and soul from centuries of indoctrination.