Engaging Skeptical Minds

ESM Introduction

Engaging Skeptical Minds (ESM)

A framework to engage skeptical questions of our youth

Today’s young Muslim generation often grapples with challenging questions about their faith. Responses to these skeptical inquiries have varied widely — from outright dismissal to apologetic explanations. The ESM framework is designed to address contemporary skeptical questions and critically evaluate the sources of knowledge. It aims to empower parents and educators to engage with the skeptical inquiries posed by youth through a thorough cause-and-effect analysis, combining intellectual rigor with spiritual insight.

Today’s Youth Questions

Skeptical Questions

  • Why is there so much suffering in the world, if Allah is merciful?
  • Why are men and women not equal in Islam?
  • If everything is pre-destined, why should I be punished for my bad acts?
  • Why does Islam allow terrorism?
  • Why is Islam non-scientific?
  • How do we know Islam is a true religion?

Our Typical Answers

  • “It’s a test from Allah”
  • “Who has been putting these ideas in your head?”
  • “If you think like that, you’ll go to hell”
  • “You’ve been spending too much time on the internet”
  • “Don’t ask silly questions”
  • “Shaytan is putting these thoughts in your head”

Possible Reactions

Initial Reactions

  • Disappointment
  • Confusion
  • Disagreement
  • Loss of Trust

Progressive Reactions

  • Internal Questioning
  • Exploring Alternate Sources
  • Becoming Skeptical
  • Following Extremist Narrative

The Four Engagement Principles

1

Empathetic Listening

  • Transforming hearing into listening
  • Enabling to listen to oneself and others
  • Empathetic listening – Bond development
2

Engagement vs Refutation

Choose engagement over refutation to win hearts, not just arguments

  • Compassion vs Opposition
  • To convince vs To silence
  • Win the heart vs Win the argument
3

Question Orientation

  • Encourage participants to ask their own questions
  • Enable them to formulate “Right Questions”
  • Teach them to find answers to their questions
4

Right Sources & Right Answers

  • Right Answers from Right Sources only
  • Match Right Question with the Right Source

Three R’s for Finding Right Answers

R1

Right (Impactful) Question

Choose questions that truly matter. A right question is one whose answer has a meaningful impact.

  • Effectively generated
  • Improved and well-prioritized
  • Justified by its scope of impact
  • Asked to achieve a specific learning goal
R2

Right Source

Finding the correct source is the most critical step. We will never get the right answer if we are looking at the wrong place.

  • Logic
  • Science & Technology
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Religion
R3

Right Methodology

Once the right source is identified, the right methodology must be applied to extract the correct answer.

  • Cause-and-effect analysis
  • Combining intellectual rigor with spiritual insight
  • Deriving answers from authentic sources

“We will never get the right answer if we are looking at the wrong place (source)”

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course the participants would be able to:

Understand Skepticism

  • Understand religious skepticism
  • Distinguish between symptoms, triggers and causes

Explore Solutions

  • Explore different tradition-based solutions
  • Apply solutions for different causes of skepticism

Engage Youth

  • Engage skeptical questions of youth
  • Enable critical thinking about humanity’s big questions

Connect Questions to Sources

  • Connect right questions with right sources
  • Evaluate scope of Science, Logic, Philosophy, History & Religion

Course Details

Duration

30 Hours

Modules

12-15 Modules

Per Module

2-3 Hours

Format

Onsite – Online

Language

Bilingual (EN-UR)

Support

Counselling Sessions

Target Audience

Individuals

  • Youth 15+
  • Parents
  • Teachers (TOT)
  • Ulema (TOT)

Institutions

  • Schools, Colleges, Universities
  • Organizations (TOT)
  • Madaris (TOT)

Note: ESM is designed for those with questions and doubts, NOT for atheists or agnostics

Testimonials

“

I want to thank the ESM team for making my vision broader. I liked the presenter’s command of their subject and the way they presented it. It has made me more curious to delve into the realm of knowledge. This course is very necessary in this era.

— Ayesha Rahman, Subject Specialist English (16 years experience)

“

This course is like a new chapter in my life; I learnt a lot. It helped strengthen my belief and brought more contentment to my heart. The miracles of the Qur’an and the challenges given by the Qur’an were particularly powerful.

— Fatima Noor, Class Teacher English (15 years experience)

“

I appreciated the ESM course for its balanced integration of ethics, science, and modern perspectives. The session connected religion, philosophy, logic, and science in a meaningful and thought-provoking way. It broadened my understanding and encouraged critical thinking.

— Maryam Khalid, EC Coordinator (18 years experience)

“

I loved it and it was so much beneficial. I, being a science person, was also looking for answers in science. It changed my perspective and gave me a guideline for logically ruling out the doubts of the children around me.

— Zainab Ahmed, Chemistry Teacher (10 years experience)

“

Highly recommend for every educator. Every concept was pretty clear and remarkably valuable. Very fruitful, Mashallah. The sessions are well-structured and deeply insightful.

— Hafsa Malik, MYP Facilitator & Languages Lead (13 years experience)

“

Everything was phenomenal, the whole session, especially bringing it to a conclusion without letting religious knowledge get in the way. At least it is opening the horizon of my own brain. The topic is the need of the hour.

— Muhammad Tariq, Secondary Mathematics Teacher

“

The evidence module was particularly strong. The content is up to the required level. I liked the logic and philosophy part and agreed to all the points. This course provides the tools we need to engage with difficult questions.

— Abdullah Hassan, Coordinator Islamic Studies (20 years experience)

“

All roads lead to Religion – this insight was exceptional. Everything was wonderfully presented. The course should be made available to more educators as it provides crucial understanding for our times.

— Usman Ali, Mathematics Teacher (7 years experience)

“

You people are amazing, keep it up. I am now able to know how to engage the students who have a variety of questions. The positive behaviors of the ESM team members made the learning experience even better.

— Bilal Khan, Pakistan Studies Teacher (16 years experience)

“

Much needed in the modern times. The inevitability of the acceptance of God and the concept explained were very akin to true understanding. Very helpful for educators dealing with contemporary challenges.

— Ibrahim Qureshi, Senior Cambridge Coordinator (26 years experience)

Way Forward

01
Engage Real Questions
→
02
Right Questions & Right Sources
→
03
Explore Sources for Right Answers

Register for ESM Program

Engage your skeptical questions and find right answers from right sources