How does Islam view the revival of paganism?

Islam does not see paganism as a religion with a revealed scripture and a clear origin, but as the result of an inborn longing to worship something when faith in the one God is missing. It rejects compulsion or hostility towards pagans.

Paganism has no clear beginning that can be traced in history. There is no book on which it is founded and no known founder. What has come down to us are customs, cults and myths.

That is why the Holy Qur’an asks a simple question again and again. Who laid the foundation of this belief? If it came from God, then let the scripture be produced. If there is no such scripture, one has to ask honestly where this belief comes from.

Islam’s answer is that paganism arises where God is absent. Deep within man lies an inborn longing to worship something. If he does not know the one God or does not believe in Him, he creates gods of his own. Over time these gods have entered stories and traditions.

That paganism is finding followers again today fits this picture. Where faith in God fades, the need to worship still remains and looks for new outlets.

Islam meets pagans without compulsion and without hostility. It invites them to ask about the origin of their own belief and trusts that truth can be told apart from error.