Religious fanaticism (III)

By Yusuf Bulafu

Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

 Why fanaticism is so dangerous

Religious fanaticism is a deeply damaging spiritual disease with widespread consequences. Its dangers extend far beyond the individual, affecting families, communities, and the image of Islam globally. What makes it particularly insidious is that it often presents itself as piety and sincerity.

On the surface, the fanatic seems deeply devoted, zealous for the truth, passionate in worship, and uncompromising in belief. But beneath that outer shell lies a rigidity, harshness, and arrogance that corrupts the spirit of religion. The Prophet Muhammad warned against this behaviour; he consistently treated it as a grave threat to the health of the ummah.

The first major danger of fanaticism is that it strips away the beauty and mercy of Islam. Our religion is meant to uplift and liberate, instead of suffocating.

The Qur’an describes Islam as a source of ease: “Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favour upon you” (2:185). The Prophet himself was a living embodiment of compassion, always choosing the easier of two options when both were permissible, and teaching his companions to be gentle with themselves and others.

However, fanatics ignore this legacy. They reduce Islam to a set of rigid rules, treat mercy as a weakness, and turn religion into a checklist of harsh obligations. As a result, people looking at such expressions of faith often see anger rather than love, condemnation rather than hope, and control rather than guidance. The damage done to the image of Islam both internally among Muslims and externally among non–Muslims is profound.

Another equally dangerous effect of fanaticism is that it turns people away from religion altogether. Many Muslims, especially youth, desire to come closer to Allah. They have questions, they seek meaning and want spiritual fulfillment. But when their first encounter with “religious” voices is with judgmental, arrogant, or aggressive individuals, they are repelled. Instead of being welcomed into the mercy of Islam, they are scolded for not meeting a particular standard.

Another danger is that fanaticism is unsustainable; it burns out those who embrace it. Religious zeal, if not grounded in knowledge, wisdom, and patience, can quickly consume a person. Many overzealous individuals take on extreme practices in their early years, isolating themselves, overburdening their bodies with worship, and mentally exhausting themselves in pursuit of a form of religiosity that Islam never asked of them. The Prophet warned against this very approach when he saw his wives tying ropes to their ceilings to prevent themselves from sleeping during prayer. He ordered the ropes to be cut and said: “Pray as much as you are able, and when you get tired, sleep.” Many people who embrace fanaticism fall into intense spiritual burnout with time; some abandon the community, others abandon practice, and tragically, some even abandon Islam altogether.

Another deeply troubling consequence of fanaticism is that it closes the heart to guidance and repentance. While a person engaged in sin usually recognizes their wrongdoing and may feel remorse, the fanatic often believes they are absolutely right. This self-righteousness is one of the most dangerous spiritual conditions. It becomes nearly impossible to advise or correct such a person, because they see themselves as speaking on behalf of God.

The Prophet warned us of this in his description of the Khawarij; the earliest fanatical sect in Islam. He said they would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, meaning it wouldn’t reach their hearts. When the Prophet was once accused of being unjust by one of them, he responded with heartbreak: “Woe to you! Who will be just if I am not?” He then foretold that from that man’s descendants would come a people who are outwardly pious but inwardly hollow, their hearts devoid of the humility and mercy that true religiosity demands. This arrogance of assuming divine authority has historically led fanatics to commit unspeakable acts in the name of religion.

Finally, perhaps the most dangerous outcome of religious fanaticism is its capacity to sow division, hatred, and even violence within the Muslim ummah. One of the defining characteristics of extremist groups is their obsession with takfir; declaring other Muslims to be disbelievers. With this mentality, they make themselves the sole arbiters of truth and label anyone who disagrees as misguided, deviant, or even worthy of death.

In all these ways, religious fanaticism stands in direct contradiction to the message of the Prophet. It presents itself as a defence of religion, but in truth, it is an assault on the very spirit of Islam. It threatens to poison the soul and fracture the ummah.

To be continued …