My Pilgrimage to Mecca Made Me an Agnostic Ex-Muslim
This story was submitted anonymously.
I am a 27-year-old Pakistani woman. Just over two years ago I was a strict conservative Muslim who did not even think about questioning my religion — in fact, 25-year-old me would have been appalled at who I am now.
This is the story of how I realised Islam was another man-made religion.
The “Perfect Musalimah” Phase
I started wearing the hijab, praying, and fasting regularly when I was around 14–15. Nobody forced me into it, but my once-moderate Muslim parents caught the religion bug, and young susceptible me got caught in the sudden tide of Islamic devotion.
I became the perfect Muslimah. Despite being in a liberal co-ed school I kept my distance from boys, never partied, never missed a prayer and never took off the hijab even in female-only gatherings because of male attendants/waiters. To top it off, I was an honor roll student and believed all my achievements were due to the wazifas (supplications) and prayers I did. I was that kid other parents compared their children with. Heck, I even inspired a few people to put on the hijab and become “religious”. People praised me right and left and I never had any reason to question Islam.
