BELIEF AND DOUBT: THE RISE OF ATHEISM AMONG MUSLIM YOUTH IN NORTHERN NIGERIA IN THE DIGITAL ERA
Keywords:
Atheism, Digital Transformation, Northern Nigeria, Youth Identity, Islamic EpistemologyAbstract
This paper investigates the rise of atheism among Muslim youth in Northern Nigeria, exploring its socio-religious implications within the context of the global digital revolution and shifting religious identities. Despite Northern Nigeria’s historical legacy of Islamic scholarship, contemporary religious identity is increasingly challenged by the pervasive influence of social media and secular ideologies. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates secondary data on Muslim youth atheists with survey data collected through stratified random sampling from three geopolitical zones. The survey reveals that 63% of participants acknowledge atheism among youth, particularly in urban areas, while 26% are unaware and 11% uncertain. Thematic analysis of 23 in-depth interviews with educators, parents, and community leaders identifies key drivers, including gaps in Islamic education, socio-economic pressures, and ineffective da’wah strategies. Emotional disillusionment, materialism, and exposure to atheistic ideologies via digital platforms were found to significantly contribute to atheism. The study situates modern doubt within classical theological categories of ilḥād (rejection of religion) and al-dahr (skepticism), distinguishing principled inquiry from radical skepticism. It argues that addressing atheism requires a revolutionary educational framework that integrates cultural wisdom with intellectual resilience grounded in tauhidic epistemology. The paper proposes a revitalized Islamic curriculum promoting critical thinking, dialogue, and confidence in Islamic epistemic resources, and calls for a holistic approach to strengthening Islamic identity in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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