Why do some people use faith as a tool?

Throughout human history, and by observing the enlightening teachings of the Holy Quran, it becomes evident that some individuals, instead of embracing faith as a genuine path to divine proximity, self-purification, and eternal salvation, have transformed it into a tool for achieving worldly objectives and personal gains. This phenomenon, described in the Quran using terms such as 'hypocrisy' (nifaq), 'showing off' (riya), and 'selling God's verses for a meager price,' signifies a profound deviation from the true purpose of religion. The Quran explicitly and clearly condemns such behaviors and warns of their dire consequences in both this world and the hereafter. One of the primary reasons individuals resort to instrumentalizing faith is the weakness or absence of true belief in their hearts. Genuine faith implies heartfelt affirmation and bodily actions, accompanied by sincerity and piety. However, those whose faith is weak or nonexistent might exploit the outward appearance of religion and its rituals to acquire worldly benefits. These benefits can include political power, social influence, material wealth, or even fame and respect among people. The Holy Quran, in Surah Al-Munafiqun (verses 1-2), vividly illustrates this situation: "When the hypocrites come to you, they say, 'We bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.' And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, but Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars. They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, evil is what they used to do." These verses indicate that hypocrisy is not merely feigning belief but using it to divert others from the path of Allah for their own corrupt purposes. They falsely attest to the Prophet's truthfulness to gain the advantages of belonging to the believing community, while lacking true faith internally. Another reason is 'riya' or showing off. Riya means performing good deeds to gain people's attention and praise, not for the sake of God's pleasure. This spiritual ailment empties worship of its true essence, turning it into a performance to gain social credibility. In Surah Al-Ma'un (verses 4-6), Allah states: "So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer – those who make show [of their deeds]." This verse clearly indicates that even prayer, the pillar of faith, if performed with the intention of showing off, not only lacks value but deserves condemnation and 'wail' (punishment). These hypocrites, through seemingly good deeds, seek social status, influence among people, or even financial gain, while their hearts are devoid of spirituality. By deceiving themselves and others, they stray from the truth of faith and focus solely on its superficial aspects and material exploitation. Such individuals might appear excessively religious, distinguishing themselves from others, thereby gaining people's trust to achieve their worldly goals. Furthermore, the Quran refers to the phenomenon of 'selling God's verses for a meager price,' which means distorting the meanings of religion, remaining silent in the face of injustice, or issuing incorrect fatwas to gain worldly benefits. This phenomenon primarily occurs among some pseudo-scholars and religious custodians who, to gain the favor of those in power or acquire wealth, conceal or distort divine truths. In Surah Al-Baqarah (verse 41), we read: "And believe in what I have sent down [the Quran], confirming that which is with you; and do not be the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My verses for a small price; and fear [only] Me." This verse and similar ones strongly condemn those who, for a small worldly gain, distort or conceal divine truths. This instrumentalization of religion, besides being a betrayal of the divine message, also leads society astray. These individuals, by abusing their religious positions, promote thoughts or actions that not only contradict the spirit of Islam but also serve their personal interests or those of a specific group. This act, in addition to corrupting their afterlife, also fuels public distrust towards religion and its custodians, which is one of the greatest societal dangers. Ultimately, the root of this instrumentalization lies in humanity's misguided priorities. When love for the world, wealth, power, and ambition outweighs love for God and the hereafter, faith becomes devoid of its essence and transforms into an empty shell for achieving fleeting worldly goals. The Holy Quran repeatedly reminds humanity of the true purpose of creation and the permanence of the hereafter versus the transient nature of this world to prevent such deviations. In essence, any exploitation of religion for purposes other than God's pleasure and salvation is a form of instrumentalizing faith, which not only brings no real benefit to the individual but also plunges them into worldly and otherworldly suffering. True faith is like a light that illuminates the heart and paves the way for righteous deeds and piety, not a means to obscure truths and achieve sinister aims. This phenomenon requires societal vigilance and awareness so that people are not deceived by the appearance of hypocritical religious individuals and always seek the truth based on authentic Quranic criteria and teachings.