The Religion Of The Ignorant

The Prophet Yusuf (as) is an instance of this. At a time when he had been thrown into a dungeon because of a slander made against him in Egypt he mentally distanced himself from the unbelievers. This is how he spoke to those who asked him questions in the dungeon:

"... I have left the religion of a people who clearly have no faith in Allah and who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the world to come. I hold fast to the creed of my forebears Ibrahim and Ishaq and Ya'qub. We don't associate anything with Allah. And that is how Allah has favored us and all mankind, but most do not give thanks. My fellow-prisoners, are many lords better, or Allah, the only One, the Conqueror? What you serve apart from Him are only names which you and your forefathers have made up. There is no mandate for them from Allah. Allah alone is qualified to judge. His order is to worship none but Him. That is in truth the straight and upright religion, but most of mankind simply do not know." (Surah Yusuf, 37-40)

In another verse, the example is cited of how the Prophet Ibrahim (as) and those around him distanced themselves from the community that adhered to false religion:

You have an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people, "We wash our hands of you and all that you worship apart from Allah, and we reject you. Between us and you there will be enmity and hatred for ever unless and until you believe in Allah alone..." (Surat al-Mumtahana, 4)

Surat al-Kafirun is another expression of the gulf between believers and adherents of false religion:

Say: "Unbelievers! I do not worship what you worship and you do not worship what I worship. Nor will I worship what you worship nor will you worship what I worship. You have your religion and I have my religion." (Surat al-Kafirun, 1-6)

The believer must construct the gulf separating him from members of false religion with the greatest scrupulousness. Not a single aspect of the religion of the unbelievers, no value judgments, ethical rules, models of behavior, or forms of dialogue must be adopted and practiced by believers. The believer is charged with exhibiting the behavior described in the Qur'an, not that in false religion. The gait and even tone of voice most befitting the nobility, moral values and belief of the faithful is described in the Qur'an. Allah proclaims in verses:

Do not avert your face from people out of haughtiness and do not strut about arrogantly on the earth. Allah does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. Be moderate in your tread and lower your voice. The most hateful of voices is the donkey's bray. (Surah Luqman, 18-19)

False religions vary greatly among themselves, and very few, like Marxism, openly state that they deny Allah. On the other hand, according to what we learn from the Qur'an, a great many members of false religions say that they believe in and obey Allah. Yet theirs is an insincere claim and has nothing to do with the truth. The lives they lead and the ethical concepts they adopt are totally incompatible with that claim. An example is given in the Qur'an of such claims made by adherents of false religions:

Indeed is the sincere religion not Allah's alone? People who take protectors besides Him [say], "We only worship them so that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Allah will judge between them regarding the things about which they differed. Allah does not guide anyone who is an ungrateful liar. (Surat az-Zumar, 3)