Today, many people are Muslims by name only—while their beliefs and actions contradict the teachings of Islam. When we look at their actions and beliefs, we find a clear gap between name and reality. Islam is not just a label—it is a complete way of life built upon correct ‘Aqeedah (belief), sincere worship, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ .
We are commanded to judge what is apparent from actions, while leaving what is in the hearts to Allah. When we observe the condition of the Ummah today, it becomes clear that many have drifted away from the true teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, even though they still carry Muslim names.
This raises an important question:
Why Many Are Muslims by Name Only Today (The Reality of the Ummah)
1. Wrong ‘Aqeedah: The Root of Misguidance
Many who are Muslims by name only fall into this first and most dangerous problem—wrong ‘Aqeedah.
Many Muslims are just Muslims by name ―they have Muslim names like Ahmed, Muhammad, Abdullah, Abdul-Rahman and so on ―and when we look at their beliefs (‘Aqeedah), they are upon an ‘Aqeedah that is contrary to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Correct ‘Aqeedah is the foundation of Islam. Without it, actions lose their value. When beliefs are corrupted-whether through innovations, misunderstandings, or blind following-this leads a person away from the true path, even if they still identify as Muslim.
2. Committing Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah)
Many Muslims today fall into acts of shirk by directing forms of worship to other than Allah (the Most High).
This includes calling upon the dead, visiting graves, shrines and tombs, seeking help from peers and saints ― those whom they refer to as the awliyā (the allies) of Allah or sālihīn (the righteous) or believing that others can intercede independently besides Allah.
They visit graves and shrines, build structures over them, and then supplicate to those within—seeking help, protection, or relief. While they may believe this brings them closer to Allah, in reality, this contradicts the core of Tawheed.
Shirk is the gravest sin in Islam, as it directs acts of worship to other than Allah. It destroys the foundation of faith and leads a person away from the true path of pure monotheism. Allah does not forgive shirk if a person dies upon it without repentance, making it the most dangerous sin a Muslim can fall into.
3. Neglecting Obligatory Acts
Today when we look at the Islamic Ummah, we see that many Muslims do not even pray, or pay the Zakāt or fast —they do not establish that which Allah (the Most High) has made obligatory upon them.
It is for this reason, they are not aided by Allah and they are not able to repel the attack from their enemies ―because they do not fulfil that which Allah (the Most High) has made obligatory upon them ―so they are left without Allah’s support. This is the state of many Muslims ―their religion is lost to them and Allah (the Most High) has caused them to be lost.
Success and honor come only through obedience to Allah, not by abondoning His commands.
4. Neglecting Tawheed (The Foundation of Islam)
Tawheed—the worship of Allah alone—is the foundation of Islam and the most important obligation upon every Muslim.
So, from the most important of affairs and reasons that have led to the Muslims being tormented is their neglect of the worship of Allah (the Most High) and their neglect of Tawheed. Many Muslims do not understand Tawheed, and what it means or how to establish it so they fall into shirk (polytheism). When Tawheed is neglected or misunderstood, a person falls into serious error, even if they outwardly identify as Muslim.
Many people today fall into forms of shirk by directing acts of worship—such as supplication, seeking help, or reliance—to other than Allah. This includes calling upon the dead, visiting graves with the intention of seeking aid, or believing that others can intercede independently besides Allah.
Then, there are those who may not commit shirk but they will not condemn it because they do not see that forbidding shirk (polytheism) is important in these times. You will find many so-called callers to Islam who do not consider people who sit at the graves and call upon the dead and make tawāf (circumambulation) of them to have committed polytheism.
True success lies in correcting our Tawheed, worshipping Allah alone, and sincerely turning back to Him. Allah’s mercy is open to all who repent and return to the truth.
The Reasons Behind the Ummah’s Suffering
So these are among the most important reasons behind the suffering of the Ummah―why Muslims are being punished and why humiliation has been unleashed upon them.
There is a narration from Imām Mālik ibn Anas (rahimahullāh, died 179H) in which he said:
“The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its early part.”
There is no doubt that the Ummah is suffering and Muslims are in a state of torment and humiliation. But that torment and humiliation will not be removed up until the Muslims return back to the religion as it was in the early part of Islam, in the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions (radiyallāhu ‘anhum).
Why Allah will send down humiliation upon the Ummah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When you partake in interest transactions (usury), hold on to the tails of cattle, become satisfied with the cultivation of the earth and you abandon striving in the path of Allah, then Allah will send down his humiliation upon you.” When will this happen? When the Muslims indulge in these acts of disobedience and sin. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ continued, “Allah will not remove the humiliation until you return back to your Religion.”
And the religion begins with Tawheed, with the worship of Allah alone and the pillars of Imān, the Prayer and the rest of the pillars of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not say “until you revolt, carry out terrorist attacks, or until you demonstrate and march in the streets and lobby parliament, etc.” He began with the essential affair of Religion.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, seek forgiveness from Allah (Subḥānahu wa Ta‘ālā) and turn back to Him before it is too late. Indeed, Allah’s mercy is vast, and He accepts the repentance of those who return to Him sincerely.
May Allah guide us all. Ameen.
If this reminder benefited you, share it with others so the message can reach more hearts.
Jazak Allah Khair
