Atheism , as a lack of belief in-or outright denial of-the existence of God, remains as problematic in the modern and contemporary Muslim world as it was during premodern times, in large part because of the absence of an exact equivalent term in Arabic. The issue is further obscured by the continuing confusion or conflation of atheism with other convictions or positions that are more accurately described as instances of unbelief, in terms of not accepting Islam (kufr) , theological deviancy or heresy (ilḥād) , apostasy (ridda) , or agnosticism. Manifestations of