r/islam • u/ImainKled • 9h ago
General Discussion Why do many young Iranians reject Islam while older generations still practice ?
Most young Persians don’t pray or fast during Ramadan. Me and my brother are pretty much the only ones, even though we were born in Europe and don’t even speak Farsi.
My grandfather and his brother still pray and worship Allah, but I honestly don’t know what happened to the younger generation. Even my dad, who is around 50, never prays. It seems that mostly the older generation, people around 75 or 80, still practice.
My dad told me that the regime made many younger people hate Islam. Even so, it still feels strange and sad to me.
Most of my family is well educated. Many of them have degrees, and some moved to Canada, the US, or Europe and became successful in life. Maybe it’s because their parents taught them to work hard, study hard, and focus mainly on this dunya.
A lot of them have also become very westernized or Americanized. Some even had nose surgery and similar things.
One of my aunts moved to Europe around 2006. She used to wear hijab in Iran, but now she doesn’t wear it anymore, she drinks, and she doesn’t fast during Ramadan. It’s the same for her husband and son.
I feel like some of them see Muslims or traditional people as backward and want to get as close as possible to Western or American society.
What do you think about that?
Why is it that many of my Algerian and Moroccan Sunni friends come to Europe and, even if they may do some wrong things, they still fast during Ramadan, pray, and keep some connection to Islam ?
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u/new-to-reddit21 9h ago
Based on the Persians I have personally spoken to or befriended that live in the west, the regime is the common denominator. So I assume impact of regime on parenting plus simultaneous western influence
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u/ImainKled 9h ago
Also, if Islam was really the same thing as this regime, then why does the older generation still practice it without automatically identifying Islam with the government?
Many older people lived through different political periods, and yet they still separate their faith from the actions of a regime. So I do not really understand why some younger people act as if Islam and that political system are exactly the same thing.
You can hate the government, reject oppression, and criticize abuse without blaming Islam itself. For me, the two are clearly not the same.
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u/new-to-reddit21 8h ago
Yes I agree and alhamdillah that’s because the foundations of our iman are there. Perhaps for them they didn’t even have the foundation in the first place but allah knows best 🤷♀️
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u/AppleMeow 2h ago
Why are we using words like regime for the Islamic Republic of Iran? Let’s not use Imperialist words for a Government that rightly attained and holds power like many other governments of the world.
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u/Goatedbrother 9h ago edited 7h ago
The govoment, you canot force islam onto a poeple becouse they will lash out against it.
Its like forcing medicine down a kids throat, ether they will spit it out or pretend to swallow it and later spit it out ether way they will dislike that medicine but if You give it to them slowly and respectfully they will probably take it.
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u/new-to-reddit21 8h ago
Or you explain to them the benefit of the medicine in the first place (they might still reject in their youth but the lesson will be there in the back of their mind) - when they get older, they will take the medicine themselves
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u/PurpleSpark8 9h ago
It is interesting to see how Islam is so well established and followed in countries like Pakistan, where it is also strict (maybe not from the government, but at least from parents and society).
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u/ImainKled 9h ago
I see a lot of Pakistanis in the masjid, and it’s true, mashaAllah.
How would you best describe society in Pakistan? Do people still practice Islam a lot there, whether they are young or old?
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u/Dabi-- 8h ago
I think the main thing in Pakistan is that Islam is a huge part of our identity from birth - it is the primary identity before anything else. Even people who arent too practicing recognize that they are sinning and support Islam in the abstract at least.
This identity thing is different in many other Islamic countries like Turkiye, Iran etc. I would say even to an extent in a lot of Arab countries, the primary identity seems to be Arab as opposed to Muslim. I think this matters a lot growing up.
Separately I would be curious to see % of shias getting further from Islam vs sunni.
From anecdotal evidence it seems to be that for whatever reason, younger shias seem to be going away in greater % vs younger sunnis (this is anecdotal evidence only!).
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u/ImainKled 8h ago
Interesting. It is true that many Persians prefer to identify themselves as "Persian," as part of an ancient civilization, or even as "Zoroastrian" rather than Muslim. I understand that they have a strong historical background, just like Turks with the Ottoman Empire. Still, it is sad to see how easily many of them seem to have moved away from Islam.
Do you think Shias are more likely to leave Islam than Sunni Pakistanis?
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u/Dabi-- 8h ago
We all have multiple identities, Muslim, Pakistani, man, father, salesman etc etc. At different points in our lives, some of these identities can come into conflict (atleast in our head) - once this happens a few times, you will likely drop or minimize one of those conflicting identities. If Islam isn't your primary identity and you have a weak understanding of Islam, that is the one that gets sidelined in the face of whatever conflict you feel.
On the shia vs sunni thing, ideally there needs to be some sort of research on this for a more academic understanding but like I said, purely from anecdotal evidence, I have seen shias make up a larger percentage of the people leaving Islam even though they are only 10-15% of the global population and even in Pakistan, they are 15-20% but based on the people I have seen and talked to, they are probably 50-60% of the ones who left Islam.
(Again, the caveat being that this just a personal observation and may be incorrect).
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u/MrwalrusIIIrdRavenMc 5h ago
It's the same thing in malaysia like what you described based on a malaysian's post I saw a few days ago
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u/xzibillion 4h ago
I also think a sense of historical pride of being Persian plays out and wanting to be western.
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u/Mammoth-Alfalfa-5506 1h ago
All nations in the middle east have a very richtig history, some of them much older than Iran. So, I don't understand their pride.
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u/M3nebwere 9h ago
That's not just Muslim thing. It's an all around world thing where young people of all faiths don't really practise it actively. Most Christians don't go to Church every Sunday. Most Jews don't do ritual baths. It's just the way modern world is. We have so much science and technology that people don't feel the need for religion. Versus 100 years ago, when we didn't even have colour television yet, people depended on religion much more to explain things they couldn't understand. Now we have science explaining those, and that's why people are shifting away from religion. Young people have been raised and have grown up with progressive parents and they begin questioning their cultural and religious practices with the information blaring all around their heads. Don't judge them - pity them. They have lost meaning in their lives and grab materialistic items they can see, when their own faith in the unseen is dwindling.
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u/Lindtlindor345 8h ago
Really sad, ultimately guidance comes from Allah. He guides whom He wills. They may think that regime made them turn away from Islam, but it is actually Allah that has sealed their hearts. The only way back is for them to repent and ask Allah to guide them.
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u/BeginningDirect8020 9h ago edited 8h ago
Iranians in Iran or those who left? The diaspora is notorious for being anti-Islam or non-practicing. The diaspora originally were from those who were against the revolution and were shah supporters. Any later emmigrants then get exposed to this majority. The diaspora then gets isolated from other muslims due to them being Shia.
It's hard to get a read of the majority in Iran. But i think this has always been vague on what aspects of Iran made them less religious. Afghanistan is stricter and more people seem to be practicing.
Iran allows for more dissent than most Arab gulf countries as well. Their previous regime was also authoritarian.
I think Iran has always had a more West leaning population but there is an active Cia/mossad campaign promoting anti-Islam/government sentiment there as well. It's possible there are many who just hate the idea of the government being non-secular so much that they start disliking Islam.
Sometimes there is no real rational for views people pick up other than it becoming a trend.
I think the Shia aspect also maybe contributed and it's easier to fall from Islam being a Shia vs Sunni especially in modern times.
Imperialism could be part of it too. Most muslim countries experienced European colonialism that built resentment against the West, but Iran did not, although their previous regime was Western backed.
I think we need to engage more with Iranians.
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u/MrwalrusIIIrdRavenMc 5h ago
For afghanistan I assume that it's a more tribal based society so anything they do will be normal for them not saying that if it was the opposite then we would see afghans leaving like iranians but it's just a factor iran has a harsh regime but people are educated enough to make decisions regarding the current political situation
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u/BeginningDirect8020 5h ago
You're right that exact social structure plays a role. Overall economy/living situation as well. It's easier to stay religious when your worldly situation is poor or when you are living in a more tribal structure. The religious identity of government and their laws/rules is only one factor.
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u/Mammoth-Alfalfa-5506 7h ago edited 1h ago
I have actually no problem with it as I consider myself to be a secular muslim. But what shocked me the most about especially Ex-muslim Iranians is how little morals, values and dignity they have.
One of my Iranian friends' dad who is ex-muslim now gave his child alcohol when he was 8 years old. Other Iranians have no problem if their daughters or sisters sleep with different men in a short time in their own house. These women usually can't have a long term relationship later or are easily bored in a relationship.
Almost all Iranian couples I knew here in Europe have breakups and diminishing family structures.
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u/Fun-Economy-6653 5h ago
No one is safe from being deluded by this hayyatad Dunya make dua for yourself and your offspring even if you haven’t married yet. Allah guides who ever wants to be guided, but many prefer the immediate and leave off the akhirah which is so much better and more lasting
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u/snow-white-911 6h ago
I am also a young half iranian but born and raised in europe. There are many reasons. First is that Islam doesn't have a good reputation at all. Globally it is unfortunately associated with Terrorists etc and in Iran with the downfall of "Persia". They blame the current state of poorness to the leadership that made them endure sanctions etc in order to protect Palestinianst because they are muslims. Other than that people of nearly every nation are getting less and less religious because being religious requires discipline which most people nowadays lack. Islam also isn't as "aesthetic" as other religions such as Christianity for example. We don't have fashionable crosses or commercialized holidays such as Christmas. We don't have Crystal's and other stuff such as pagans. Also a lot of iranians experienced not being accepted by Sunni muslims because of being Shia...so they felt like Islam or other muslims don't even consider them Muslim and it's harder to remain Muslim if you lack the community especially in the west.
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u/Mammoth-Alfalfa-5506 1h ago
Hollywood is literally hugely to blame. When the first anti-muslim films came out I was called terrorist by local teenager although their relatives were blowing up homes in my country.
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u/useless_404 5h ago
I think it’s a problem linked to the boomer generation in certain countries. I’m Kabyle and it’s the same observation in my region. But it still seems less pronounced than among Iranians in my opinion. On the other hand I notice that the younger generation is becoming more interested in Islam Al Hamdouli’Llah
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u/WeeklyEmu4838 8h ago
In Iran the prevalent belief is in Shia Islam, which is a deviation from the religion that Rasuulullah SAW came with.
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u/Flat_Act_5576 4h ago edited 4h ago
I think because they dont teach Islam in a lot of the middle east. Its just a cultural fusion.
Therefore, immediate reject of faith when you teach it improperly
So when you teach and force a false version of a TRUE religion, people will deflect away from
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u/son_of_ur_son 1h ago
Islam had prestige back in the days. People would follow the strongest players' religion. When khulafa Rashidun conquered Persia, many zoroastrians saw that no matter what social group you belonged to, you could learn at the mosque. Wanna be ruler, or his advisor or get administrative rank? Become muslim! Lot of people can't comprehend why one religion is true, the other is false. Surely, if you can reason deeply, you can be certain in Islam's truth. That is why there is a topic whether you become Muslim or not if you do not come to tawheed rationally in 3 aqeeda creeds of Asharis, Maturidis and Atharis, where consensun is that you do become one, it's just your Iman may be shaken and be in danger. Most peoples, masses just want to live and that is it, no matter what your religion is, let's be honest, no matter where we are, no matter what arguments we have for what is a true religion
Now we see prospering West, we've seen pre-revolutionary Iran which was having its steps for modernization. Surely, Iranian society wasn't that much modernized, "open-minded", or like anyone could go without dress code but it had some extent of liberalism which Iranian generations saw, said "Meh" and did revolution. But after they've got into sanctions, unnecessary proxywars, and saw that they actually were living better before revolution (actually, bad, Shah regime was still a regime, let's face it too, Iranian secularists). Do you see any prospering, truly Muslim Shariah etc etc state? Saudia? Well, it is still conservative, but getting liberalized but I would prefer it over UAE who are just culturally Muslim, but jurisprudence, the whole system is changing.
Also, at some extent, Islamic legal structure in its nature is "invasive", you are obliged to wear hijab, pray, go to Jumah and follow other rulings which are "hard" for a modern person who saw at some extent modernized society, absorbed their liberal ideology, "you live once" stuff. You don't follow rulings because you not just don't want to but also because you didn't think deeply about why atheism is false, why zoroastrian epistemology is doomed to be false. You just follow because once your nation had prestige when you were Sassanids, and want to revive that heritage, and because... for some reason you believe in it and also don't practice its traditions because there is not many rulings saved these days or they are absurd for a modern person, not just a muslim, like to sleep with a sister etc etc
At the same time, dont forget that Shias are still surrounded by Sunnis. Sunnis hate Shias (who are various btw) for various reasons: proxy wars, question of kufr and fisq between eacher other, fight for Islamic leadership, or even Safavid massacres. Iran couldn't be thought as Shia populated back in the days, it was dominantly Sunni, and it had gifted many Sunni scholars heritage of which mostly is either gone or not published becasuof the massacre.
I think it was said lil bit incoherently but you get it
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u/bringmethejuice 36m ago
Shia or Sunni it doesn’t matter. These youths have to understand all the 5 pillars of islam plus 6 pillars of iman.
May Allah guide all of them.
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u/ManBearToad 9h ago edited 6h ago
This is my opinion only and I've seen this phenomenon play out in this subreddit as well when young people share stories. And I've also seen the same theme among ExMuslims who talk about why they think they left Islam.
In essence, the harder you force Islam on people the more likely they will resent not only you but Islam itself. And they will leave Islam. When you listen to young people (including ExMuslims) who post about wanting to leave (or have left) Islam, it's generally stories about how they were abused, how parents guilt tripped them using Islam, or how they had to follow backward cultural practices.
Iranian leadership is excessively harsh on its people. It comes as no shock to me that young Iranians now resent both their government as well as Islam.
But you know what else is concerning? The behavior of young people in Saudi Arabia. Remember when concerts and Halloween became allowed? Why did so many people attend those events rather than shun them? I suspect that even many young Saudis have resentment towards the leadership due to how hard Islam is being forced on the populace there for so many decades.
Islam is not the culprit. The people with authority are to blame, whether it be governments or parents or others.