Why do some people misuse religion for their own gain?

The question you've raised is profoundly significant and, unfortunately, a persistent challenge throughout human history. Religion, in its essence, is a path for humanity to connect with the Creator, a means to purify the soul, establish justice, foster love, and serve creation. However, history clearly demonstrates how some individuals have exploited this sacred instrument to achieve material objectives, gain power, fame, or wealth. The Holy Quran, as a book of divine guidance, explicitly addresses this phenomenon and warns against those who turn religion into a means for their worldly ends. To understand why this occurs, we must examine several key factors from a Quranic perspective: 1. Weakness of Faith and Inner Hypocrisy: One of the most crucial reasons emphasized by the Quran is the inherent weakness and fragility of inner faith. An individual who lacks genuine, deeply rooted belief in God and the Day of Judgment will perform religious acts merely as an outward display to impress others. The Quran refers to such individuals as 'hypocrites' (munafiqoon). Hypocrites are those who verbally profess faith but whose hearts are devoid of sincerity. Their true aim is to deceive God and the believers, while in reality, they only deceive themselves. This weakness of faith renders eternal values insignificant to them, pushing them to focus solely on worldly gains. They employ divine commandments not out of obedience to God, but to achieve social status, wealth, or power. Such individuals are willing to distort God's verses, alter religious laws, or even issue erroneous religious edicts (fatwas) to reach their goals. The Quran frequently details the bitter fate of hypocrites, revealing how their deceptive appearances will ultimately be exposed and yield no benefit for them. These individuals transform religion into a tool rather than a genuine path for life. 2. Love of the World (Dunya) and Prioritizing It Over the Hereafter (Akhirah): The Holy Quran repeatedly warns against 'Hubb al-Dunya,' or an excessive love for worldly life and prioritizing it over the Hereafter. This is a primary root of all deviations, including the misuse of religion. When the love for wealth, status, fame, and transient worldly pleasures dominates a person's heart, they become willing to transgress any principle, even religious and ethical ones, to achieve their desires. The Quran explicitly mentions those who 'sell God's verses for a small price.' This 'small price' refers to the fleeting worldly gains that, in comparison to eternal rewards and divine pleasure, hold no true value. Such individuals are prepared to conceal the truth, lie, commit injustice, and even mislead people to attain wealth or position in this world. They forget that this world is temporary and what remains are one's deeds and their consequences in the Hereafter. 3. Thirst for Power and Domination: Religion, due to its profound influence on human hearts and souls and its elevated moral standing, can be a potent instrument for control and dominance over the masses. Individuals driven by a thirst for power and control may exploit this immense potential. They present themselves as exclusive interpreters of religion, or even as special representatives of God, thereby gaining legitimacy to rule over people. By using religious language, they can compel people to obey them, confiscate resources for their benefit, and suppress any opposition under the guise of opposing religion. This misuse can lead to the formation of religious dictatorships or extremist groups that commit great atrocities in the name of religion. The Quran vehemently condemns those who call people to other than God and who set themselves up in God's place, labeling them as tyrants (Taghut). 4. Ignorance and Deliberate Distortion: Sometimes, the misuse of religion stems from genuine ignorance and lack of knowledge. However, more often, those who misuse religion deliberately and intentionally distort and misinterpret verses and traditions. They highlight parts of the sacred text that serve their interests while ignoring the rest. They may even twist words from their proper context to extract their desired meaning. This intentional distortion is done to mislead people and justify their wrongful actions. The Quran severely reprimands such distorters, placing them among the misguided. The Quran's Message: The Holy Quran defines the primary objective of the prophets' missions as establishing justice and pure monotheism. True religiosity means sincere service to God and humanity, avoiding all forms of hypocrisy and pretense, and prioritizing otherworldly values over worldly ones. The misuse of religion not only harms the religion itself but also erodes public trust in truth and propagates corruption. The Quran consistently emphasizes honesty, trustworthiness, and pure intentions in all actions, especially religious ones. It warns believers to be vigilant against those who seek personal gain in the name of religion, and to judge what is right not by individuals' appearances, but by the conformity of their actions with God's word and the Prophet's conduct. Ultimately, the misuse of religion is a sign of spiritual sickness and inner weakness, the cure for which is a return to sincerity, piety, and deep contemplation on the true meaning of the prophets' missions.