When I was 19, I remember reading Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion”.

Western ideology and ignorance of my own faith led my to doubt Islam.

I remember reading a passage:

“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering Zeus, Apollo, Amon Ra, Mithras, Baal, Thor, Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one god further.”

The implication?

That my belief in the one God who created humans and everything else was no different from belief in ancient mythology.

Sadly, back then, I cared more about fitting in than finding the truth.

So my heart stayed closed and I was easily tricked by this rhetoric.

But years later, after living with that doubt, Allah opened my heart and I received Hidayah (guidance) during Ramadan 24’.

Looking back, I see that it was confidence which shaped my thinking.

Dawkins’ boldness made his message seem true to me, even though it clearly wasn’t—it's how Shaytān leads believers astray.

This is what’s called the “confidence heuristic”—humans tend to trust confident people, even if they’re wrong.

This is so relevant for new creators who have imposter syndrome, thinking things like:

“Who would listen to me?”

That mindset will hold you back as it did for me, for many, many years.

But if you have a message that’s important, and you want to get it out to the world, remember:

If you don’t have confidence in yourself, nobody else will.

Now, I’d love to hear from you, my halal creator friend.

What’s your biggest struggle as a creator right now? Just hit reply—I read every response.”

As salamu aleiykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh 😊

—Redim