Question:
What are the worldly effects on those who do not believe in God?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
It is hard to determine the number of atheists in the whole world due to differences in culture, backgrounds and they may also hide behind philosophical ideologies like Taoisme, Jainisme or known as Agnostic. In fact, some ‘remain’ as Muslims and practising the acts of worship in Islam for they consider themselves as culturally Muslims.
Living in this world that is bound with the process of cause-effect, surely it will lead to an answer of the effects towards those who do not believe in God. In a journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, there is an article entitled Does Religion Stave Off the Grave? Religious Affiliation in One’s Obituary and Longevity. This research is not the main argument of the advantages of having religion, but it can be a support in differentiating between those with religion and otherwise.
This research focuses on the effects of religious life towards longevity. The research by academicians of Psychology from Ohio University including one from Xavier University shows that those with religion live 5.64 years longer than those who do not. It was done by referring to 1000 obituary notices from newspapers in 42 states of the United States of America. In fact, the research on 500 obituary notices in Iowa shows an increase of 6.48 years in the area, where they concluded that living in a religious area also give the same impact. [1]
We list out briefly the 16 psychological effects on individuals who do not believe in God as cited from Syeikh ‘Abd al-Rahman Habannakah al-Maidani in Kawasyif Zuyuf, pg 553-554. Not all of these attributes may affect the life of an atheist, but he may experience several or some of them in his life. Among them are:
- Feeling confused and disconcerted as well as the loss of one’s peace of mind and heart.
- Feeling suffocated and imprisoned in his own life.
- Easily irritated.
- Depression and anxiety.
- Sadness and stress
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Vengeful and his soul craves for pleasure towards all existing things.
- Excessive hatred.
- Excessive fear and doubt.
- Never-ending worry. When faced with hardships, he is worrisome. When he receives goodness, he becomes stingy.
- Extreme jealousy on anything that contradicts his needs.
- Burning jealousy.
- Broken heart.
- Uneasy with life.
- Extreme insanity.
- Isolation which leads to being individualistic.
Even if some may deny these attributes for an atheist, in truth, he will experience at least one of them especially the feeling discontentment in his life. A committed atheist will always be discontent if he does not challenge his intellect by having discussions with religious people.
If they did not get an answer that is logical, it is a sort of satisfaction for them. Lastly, they do not realize that it is merely their growing ego in their hearts.
Conclusion
Religious life actually gives 1001 advantages to humans, especially the religion of Islam. Religion gives humans guidance and commandment of life as well as providing answers on matters which cannot be explained by humans. Also, with religion, humans are able to differentiate the true nature of good and evil. Besides, religion also balances between two elements; physical and spiritual.
Just refer to the experiences of Yusuf Estes, Yusuf Islam, Sonny Bill Williams, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and others. There must be great differences that they experienced and felt before and after embracing Islam. This could only be understood by those with religion.
Allah SWT state in the Quran regarding the disbelievers:
فَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّـهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ ۖ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّـهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
“So, whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe.”
Surah al-An’am (125)
Imam al-Baghawi explained that those who Allah SWT wish to be guided will have his heart opened and bless with the light that he accepts Islam. While those who Allah SWT wish to be misguided will be diverted and their heart will be closed that iman may not enter. (Refer Ma’alim al-Tanzil, 2/157-158)
Let’s reflect upon our weaknesses together and strive to strengthen our iman and taqwa to Allah SWT.
[1] http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1948550618779820