Does One’s Inability to Believe in Certain Realities of the Quran and Islamic Beliefs Entail Kufr?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

There are some things in the Quran that I can not believe in, no matter how hard I try. I can’t believe that Adam and Eve exist, I can’t believe the Dhul-Qarnayn story, I have doubts about all 6 Pillars of Faith, including Allah, and I don’t know for sure if he is confirmed. I am trying to believe in it, but I can’t. Can I still say the Shahada, and perhaps when my faith increases, I may believe in it 100 percent?

Also, I get scared of other Hells, and I heard this might be a shirk. Is it ok to be scared of these if I don’t believe in them?

Finally, I believe in human evolution; would this be Kufr?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

At the onset, like many things in life, Islam is a gradual process of internalization and operationalization.  Allah Most High, open up your heart to the final message of humanity for all times and all places with the light of Islam, Amin

Every minute of our worldly life, past, present, and future, and the Hereafter and its unfolding has many pearls of wisdom behind it. Some we understand, others we don’t. In this situation, it is a test, a lesson for all to see if we will refrain or not and how we can live and how we should act and react.

Adam and Eve

(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive (human) authority on earth.” [Quran, 2:30]

Allah Most High has given us the blessing of sending us His message through Prophets starting from Prophet Adam and ending on Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) as the last of the Prophets, as representatives of His to guide them through his worship to come to recognize Him. This can only be achieved in Prophets being role models and given a manual of guidance with it.

Dhul Qarnayn

They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, “I will relate to you something of his narrative.” [Quran, 18:83]

Why was he named Dhul-Qarnayn? (the one having two horns) Regarding its reason, there are numerous sayings and differences. Some said that he had two curly locks of hair; therefore, he was called Dhul-Qarnayn. Some others said that he ruled countries of the East and West; therefore, he was named Dhul-Qarnayn.

Someone also said that he had marks on his head resembling two horns. It appears in some narratives that he had wound marks on both sides of his head; therefore, he was identified as Dhul-Qarnayn.

Whatever the Quran has mentioned, part of the event of Dhul-Qarnayn is no more than what is described below:

He was a righteous and just king who reached the East and the West, conquered countries in between, and ruled there justly. All sorts of means had been provided to him by Allah Most High to help him achieve his objectives.

On the route of his conquests, he traveled in three directions: to the far West, to the far East, and then to the mountain range in the North.

At the last-mentioned place, he closed the pass in between two mountains by a wall cast in molten metal, which made it possible for the people of the area to stay protected against the pillage of Gog and Magog.” [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir ibn Kathir]

Six Articles of Faith (Iman)

Islam helps us develop a close relationship with Allah Most High by first telling us what to believe in, having faith in the six Articles, and then after practicing the five pillars of Islam, and then finally internalizing the two into worshiping Allah Most High believing and doing those things as though you see Him or He sees you which is Ihsan, Spiritual Excellence.

Hell

The effect of belief in Hell is to make one desist from committing bad deeds in this world. Sometimes people commit evil when they think no one can see them and they can get away with whatever they do.

However, when a person knows that Allah looks over everything people do and that Hell exists. A genuine belief in Hell will often restrain a person from committing those immoral acts.

I advise you to go to a local New Muslim Group, they will also help you answer your questions, join one of SeekersGuidance Courses, like How Islam Works (seekersguidance.org) and many other exciting and suitable courses.

Islam and knowledge of the realities of this world and the Hereafter is a lifetime journey; we are all part of it. As the statement goes, knowledge acquisition is from the cradle to the grave.

No doubt you should keep exploring, pray to Allah Most High for guidance and clarity, and sit in the company of practicing good Muslims who will help you navigate your journey of life and Islam and answer your questions.

Check these links as well:
New to Islam Reader: A Trusted Collection of Resources for Converts – SeekersGuidance
Faith and Certitude: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader – SeekersGuidance
What Are Some Recommendations on What To Study for a New Muslim? – SeekersGuidance
What Is the Difference between the Five Pillars and the Articles of Faith? (seekersguidance.org)
What Can I Do to Strengthen and Increase My Faith? – SeekersGuidance
A Thinking Persons Guide to Islam: The Essence of Islam in Twelve Verses from the Quran: Amazon.co.uk: Bin Muhammad, Prince Ghazi: 9781906949303: Books

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)

I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani