Every Child is Born "Religionless"... — Altaf Hussain
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Posted on: 4/22/2026
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Every Child is Born "Religionless"... — Altaf Hussain
No religion teaches hatred. However, the superpowers of every era have used religion as a weapon to gain public support. In any country, the ruling elite generally uses the prevailing religion as a shield to fulfil their desires and achieve both legitimate and illegitimate goals. Similarly, the ruling elites of various nations have always used religion to mould public opinion in their favour.
Before I delve further into the subject of the misuse of religion, I would like to present a few examples from the distant and recent past so that readers, especially the youth (Gen Z), can easily understand this important and sensitive topic in its true spirit.
For instance, after the defeat of the Indians in the 1857 War of Independence, the British gained complete control over India. Gradually, the people began to mobilise against the illegal British occupation. Several freedom-fighter groups emerged, and the echoes of "Independence" grew louder every day. To break this unity, divide the people, and weaken them, the British used religion cunningly.
#Hindus and #Muslims, who had lived together for nearly a thousand years while adhering to their respective faiths—sharing in each other's joys and sorrows and respecting each other's religious festivals—were divided by the British based on religion. To ensure this division, the British ruling elite used the local Moulvis (clerics) and Pandits. Consequently, the Hindus and Muslims who were fighting together against the British became so divided that they began fighting each other instead, which eventually led to the geographical partition of India.
Looking at a more recent example of the Cold War in the 1970s, when the Soviet Union invaded #Afghanistan, the United States resorted to religious bait instead of confronting the Soviet Union directly. Trillions of dollars, along with military equipment and ammunition, were used to prepare the Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan. #Pakistan was turned into a central battleground against Russia. The Pakistani ruling elite established hundreds of Jihadi Madrassas (seminaries), where they not only gave "Jihad" education to innocent and elementary-minded people—especially the youth—but also set up centres to train them to fight in it.
Across Pakistan, massive banners and wall chalkings appeared, urging people to help the "Mujahideen" who were fighting a "Jihad" in the name of Allah against the "infidel" Russians. All of this was done under the patronage of the ruling elite, who exploited religious parties and influential religious figures to brainwash the public. Concurrently, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was brought into existence to serve the interests of the ruling elite, promoting religious extremism within the country.
From that time until today, April 18, 2026, a large section of the Pakistani public has fallen prey to religious extremism. Every other day, incidents surface where someone is accused of desecrating the Holy Quran or committing blasphemy against the Last Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH). Based on such false allegations, incidents of murdering individuals from different religions, burning them alive, or torching the places of worship and properties of religious minorities have continued to occur. A tragic cycle of such events began and has yet to end—all under the patronage of the ruling elite.
I would like to further elaborate on this subject by emphasising that the clerics, priests, pundits, or preachers of any religion often work for the interests of the elite under the guise of faith. They declare the actions of the elite to be exactly in accordance with religious teachings, urging the people to obey, support, and follow the ruling class.
To spread religious fanaticism for this purpose, topics are introduced to the public that promote extremism and sow discord. For example, jurisprudential (Fiqh) differences are labelled as "Kufr" (infidelity), and followers of opposing sects are declared "Kafir" or even “bound to be killed" (Wajib-ul-Qatl). In some educational institutions, children are formally taught to recite chants, labelling followers of specific sects as infidels. Certain elements incite people against opposing sects or religions during religious gatherings, processions, and seminars. This extremist behaviour fosters intense hatred, intolerance, and chaos among different segments of society.
We must understand that religion is both a faith and a belief system. The reality is that every child born in this world is born “religionless." A child emerging from a mother’s womb has no religion; they are born without one.
•A child born into a #Muslim household is given the Adhan (call to prayer) in their ear to make them Muslim.
•A child born into a #Christian household is taken to a church to be baptised.
•Followers of other religions perform rituals according to their own beliefs to bring the child into the fold of their faith.
Muslims take their children to the mosque, Christians to the church, Jews to the synagogue, Hindus to the temple, and #Sikhs to the Gurdwara. Thus, a child begins to do/adopt what they see their parents or family members doing. They adopt the religion of their family.
This proves that religion is hereditary. Generally, a follower of any religion adopts the faith of their parents and ancestors. There is no personal "credit" for the individual in adopting that religion.
Every individual is told from the beginning that their religion is the best and the only true one. Consequently, they accept it as the truth, and this thought becomes a part of their faith. If we look closely, no religion or belief system has a scientific reality; it cannot be proven true on scientific grounds in a laboratory. If a religion could be proven scientifically, it would be present in every home like a scientific fact. For example, a lightbulb is a scientific invention—a scientific fact proven by science—therefore, it burns in every place of worship and every home, regardless of religion or sect.
In the past, we have seen that almost every scientific theory or invention was initially declared "against religion," and its use was even declared Haram (forbidden). For instance, when the loudspeaker was introduced in the subcontinent, it was opposed on religious grounds, and its use was declared Haram, even for the Adhan. Today, however, followers of every religion and sect use it. Similarly, cameras, television, and VCRs were once declared Haram. The Taliban and other extremists even smashed TVs and hung them from poles. Yet today, all religious groups use TV and cameras extensively to promote their beliefs, even owning their own TV channels. What was Haram yesterday has become Halal today. As human wisdom grows, people eventually recognise the reality and utility of scientific inventions and start consuming them.
I want to say to Pakistanis: as #Muslims, you may belong to any sect or school of thought. I am not asking you to abandon your beliefs. By all means, remain firm in your faith, but do not impugn the faith of others. Pray in your own way, and let others pray in theirs. Ultimately, you are both prostrating to Allah and worshipping Him. Do not hate one another based on differences in prayer methods or beliefs; instead, respect each other and treat one another with love. Mingle and make friends. Regardless of your religion or sect, you are human, and the human bond should take precedence over all other ties. Hating people based on religion or belief is a clear disgrace to humanity and human relationships.
Similarly, regardless of a citizen's religion, if they do not share your faith, fighting them, creating unrest in the area, inciting people to violence, killing someone, or burning their place of worship or home is an entirely wrongful act. If you kill someone or burn their home in the name of religion and claim it is right, you are attributing these actions to your religious teachings—whereas no religion teaches murder, mayhem, or provocation.
The same applies to language, ethnicity, or region; there should be no hatred, prejudice, or discrimination on these bases. My message is simple: Love every human being irrespective of language, religion, and ethnicity.
I believe that the betterment of the world lies in the philosophy of ” live and let live." We must build a society that is not ruled by the "law of the jungle,” where the strong consume the weak. Instead, it should be a human society where humanity is respected, and no one is subjected to hatred, prejudice, or discrimination based on religion, sect, belief, language, or region.
Altaf Hussain
Address to the 397th Intellectual Session on TikTok
April 18, 2026
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4/23/2026 4:14:25 PM
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