URDU: الحاد: لسانی، الہٰیاتی اور تاریخی تجزیہ—معاصر رجحانات اور چیلنجز کے تناظر میں

Atheism: A Linguistic, Theological, and Historical Analysis with Reference to Contemporary Trends and Challenges

Abstract

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of atheism (Ilhad) through linguistic, exegetical, and philosophical perspectives. It examines the semantic roots of the term in Arabic and its multifaceted usage in the Qur’an and classical Islamic scholarship. The study critically compares Islamic and Western conceptualizations, highlighting that while Western thought confines atheism to the denial of God, Islamic discourse extends it to encompass deviation from revealed truth. Furthermore, it categorizes atheism into denial-based and affirmational types, with key subcategories including positive, agnostic, and naturalistic atheism. By tracing its historical evolution from antiquity to postmodernity, the paper identifies major contemporary drivers - such as secularism, materialism, and digital media - and proposes intellectually grounded strategies for addressing its growing influence.