Ibn Warraq is the pseudonym of an anonymous author and scholar born in 1946 in British India, who has become a prominent critic of Islam and advocate for secularism. Raised in a Muslim family, he reportedly became disillusioned with the religion during his youth, particularly after experiencing political and religious turmoil in post-partition Pakistan where his family relocated. Warraq moved to the United Kingdom for higher education, where he studied Western philosophy, Arabic, and Persian literature, eventually pursuing a career in writing and research under his pen name to protect his identity from potential reprisals. His work focuses on Quranic criticism, historical analysis of Islamic texts, and calls for reform within Muslim societies, positioning him as a key figure in the ex-Muslim and secular humanist movements.

Warraq gained international recognition with the publication of his seminal book 'Why I Am Not a Muslim' in 1995, which critiques the foundations of Islam through historical, philosophical, and textual analysis, drawing comparisons to Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not a Christian.' He has authored several other works, including 'The Origins of the Koran: Classic Essays on Islam's Holy Book' (1998), 'What the Koran Really Says: Language, Text, and Commentary' (2002), and 'Defending the West: A Critique of Edward Said's Orientalism' (2007), often collaborating with publishers like Prometheus Books. As the founder of the Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society (established around 2000), he promotes secular governance and human rights in Islamic countries. Warraq served as a senior research fellow at the Center for Inquiry, a secular think tank in the United States, where he contributed to research on religion and skepticism, and he holds the position of vice-president at the World Encounter Institute, an organization fostering dialogue on secularism and reform.

His writings and public stances have sparked significant controversy, with supporters praising his intellectual courage and contributions to free thought, while critics, including some Muslim organizations and scholars, have accused him of Islamophobia, orientalism, and misrepresenting Islamic history. Warraq has met with figures like Robert Spencer, a fellow critic of Islam, and his anonymity has been maintained amid threats, underscoring the risks faced by apostates and reformers in certain contexts. Despite his pseudonymous status, his influence extends through lectures, articles in journals like The New Republic and The Wall Street Journal, and affiliations with humanist groups, making him a pivotal voice in discussions on religion, secularism, and cultural critique.