A renowned scholar of Islamic studies interviews ex-Muslims, who feel it is their duty to speak up against their former faith to tell the truth about the fastest growing religion in the world.

A candid appraisal of the challenges and consequences of leaving Islam

Records the testimonies of former Muslims who have left the Islamic faith, recording their reasons for leaving the religion and the consequences that they have faced as a result.

Leaving Faith Behind gives voice to women and men who were born into Muslim families and communities, but who have made the decision to leave Islam or to dissent against some of the most significant aspects of Islamic doctrine. Aliyah, who realized as a young woman that she did not have to live by rigid rules and concepts that suffocated her true self. Hassan, who became a practicing Muslim in his teens, but for whom doubts led him to leave the faith in his fifties. Jimmy, banished from his home and family when he was discovered to be gay. Marwa, who keeps secret from her community the fact that she can no longer practice a religion that she believes degrades and denies basic rights to women. Aisha, for whom the journey from belief to disbelief was a gradual process involving personal challenge and confrontations with friends and family. As increasing numbers of people in Western society choose to turn away from organized religion, this book allows the stories of some of them to be heard: the reasons for their decisions to leave, the challenges of leaving, and the effects on their lives and relationships. It also captures portraits of life and culture within Muslim communities in our fast-changing world, and how they are reacting and responding to migration, secularization, more inclusive attitudes to gender and sexuality, and other trends of modern society.

The Handbook of Leaving Religion introduces a neglected field of research with the aim to outline previous and contemporary research, and suggest how the topic of leaving religion should be studied in the future. The handbook consists of three sections: 1) Major debates about leaving religion; 2) Case studies and empirical insights; and 3) Theoretical and methodological approaches. Section one provides the reader with an introduction to key terms, historical developments, major controversies and significant cases. Section two includes case studies that illustrate various processes of leaving religion from different perspectives, and each chapter provides new empirical insights. Section three discusses, presents and encourages new approaches to the study of leaving religion.

Those who practice the Muslim faith have resisted examinations of their religion. They are extremely guarded about their religion, and what they consider blasphemous acts by skeptical Muslims and non-Muslims alike has only served to pique the world's curiosity. This critical examination reveals an unflattering picture of the faith and its practitioners. Nevertheless, it is the truth, something that has either been deliberately concealed by modern scholars or buried in obscure journals accessible only to a select few.