Criticism of Islam has existed since Islam's formative stages. Early written criticism came from Christians, prior to 1000 AD, many of whom viewed Islam as a radical Christian heresy. Later there appeared criticism from the Muslim world itself, and also from Jewish writers and from ecclesiastical Christians. In the modern era, criticism has come from Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Communists most notably ex-muslims who became converted to another religion or became atheists or agnostics, as well as people both inside and outside Islam, on a wide variety of topics.

Objects of criticism include the morality of the life of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, both in his public and personal life. Issues relating to the authenticity and morality of the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, are also discussed by critics. Other criticisms focus on the question of human rights in modern Islamic nations, and the treatment of women in Islamic law and practice. In wake of the recent "multiculturalism" trend, Islam's influence on the ability of Muslim immigrants in the West to assimilate has been criticized.

History of criticism of Islam