Ibn Warraq

Ibn Warraq (born 1946) is a pseudonymous author and critic of Islam whose work has significantly influenced contemporary debates on religious criticism and secularism. Born in India and raised in Pakistan, he later studied at the University of Edinburgh. His seminal work "Why I Am Not a Muslim" (1995) presents a systematic critique of Islamic theology, history, and practice from a secular humanist perspective. Drawing on both classical Islamic sources and modern scholarship, Ibn Warraq challenges traditional Muslim apologetics and argues for the application of historical-critical methods to Islamic texts. His writings have been controversial, praised by some as courageous contributions to free inquiry and criticized by others as polemical. Through his work with the Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society, he has advocated for religious freedom and secular values in Muslim-majority societies, contributing to broader discussions about the relationship between religion, reason, and human rights.