taqiyyah
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What is taqiyyah?
Taqiyyah, in Islam, is concealing one’s belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under the threat of death or injury. Derived from the Arabic word waqa (“to shield oneself”), taqiyyah means self-protection in the face of danger to oneself or one’s fellow Muslims.
Taqiyyah has been employed by the Shiʿites because of their historical persecution and political defeats by both non-Muslims and the majority Sunni sect. Scriptural authority for taqiyyah comes from the Qurʾān. The circumstances in which it may be used and the extent to which it is obligatory have been widely disputed by Islamic scholars.
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Which religion is taqiyyah associated with?
Taqiyyah is a doctrine in Islam that allows believers to conceal their faith when under threat of death or injury. It is derived from the Arabic word waqa, meaning "to shield oneself." Taqiyyah is mainly associated with the Shi'ites, the largest minority sect in Islam, because of their history of persecution and political defeats by both non-Muslims and the Sunni majority.
The practice is based on verses in the Qurʾān and the Hadith (traditional sayings of Muhammad). However, the circumstances and extent of its use are disputed among Islamic scholars. Taqiyyah is not allowed for tolerable punishments and requires unavoidable danger to the believer.
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Why do some followers of Islam practice taqiyyah?
Taqiyyah, derived from the Arabic waqa ("to shield oneself"), refers to concealing one’s belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under threat of death or injury. It serves as self-protection in the face of danger to oneself or fellow Muslims and can protect individuals or communities.
Shīʿites, the largest minority sect of Islam, have employed taqiyyah due to historical persecution and political defeats by both non-Muslims and the majority Sunni sect. Scriptural authority for taqiyyah comes from statements in the Qurʾān. The circumstances and obligatory extent of taqiyyah have been widely disputed by Islamic scholars.
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How does taqiyyah protect individuals in difficult situations?
Taqiyyah, derived from the Arabic waqa ("to shield oneself"), is a practice in Islam that allows individuals to conceal their beliefs and forgo religious duties when facing a threat of death or injury. It serves as a means of self-protection for individuals or the community in the face of danger. Scriptural authority for taqiyyah comes from the Qurʾān, which allows believers to safeguard themselves against unbelievers and recounts the story of ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir, who was not punished for renouncing his faith under torture. The circumstances and obligatory extent of taqiyyah remain disputed among Islamic scholars.
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What is the difference between taqiyyah and lying?
Taqiyyah, derived from the Arabic waqa ("to shield oneself"), is a practice in Islam of concealing one’s belief when under threat of death or injury. It is a form of self-protection or protecting one's fellow Muslims.
While taqiyyah may appear as outward conformity, it is not a license for a shallow profession of faith. Oaths taken with mental reservation are justified on the basis that God accepts what one believes inwardly. The danger to the believer must be unavoidable to be justified.
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How do different Islamic groups view the practice of taqiyyah?
Taqiyyah, or precautionary dissimulation, involves concealing one's beliefs under threat. Islamic groups differ significantly in their views on taqiyyah.
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Shia Muslims Taqiyyah is an important principle due to historical persecution, allowing adherents to conceal their faith in hostile environments. It's attributed to Ali and other Imams, becoming integral to Shia religious practice.
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Sunni Muslims Sunni scholars have varying opinions; some accept taqiyyah, while others, like Hanbali scholars and Wahhabis, insist on returning directly to the sources for independent judgment.
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taqiyyah, in Islam, the practice of concealing one’s belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under threat of death or injury. Derived from the Arabic word waqa (“to shield oneself”), taqiyyah defies easy translation. English renderings such as “precautionary dissimulation” or “prudent fear” partly convey the term’s meaning of self-protection in the face of danger to oneself or, by extension and depending upon the circumstances, to one’s fellow Muslims. Thus, taqiyyah may be used for either the protection of an individual or the protection of a community. Moreover, it is not used or even interpreted in the same way by every sect of Islam. Taqiyyah has been employed by the Shīʿites, the largest minority sect of Islam, because of their historical persecution and political defeats not only by non-Muslims but also at the hands of the majority Sunni sect.
Scriptural authority for taqiyyah is derived from two statements in the Qurʾān, the holy book of Islam. The 28th verse of the third sura (chapter) says that, out of fear of Allah (God), believers should not show preference in friendship to unbelievers “unless to safeguard yourselves against them.” The 16th sura was revealed (according to tradition) to ease the conscience of ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir, a devout follower of the Prophet Muhammad, who renounced his faith under torture and threat of death. Verse 106 of this sura proclaims that if a Muslim who is forced to deny his religion is nevertheless a true believer who feels “the peace of faith” in his heart, he will not suffer great punishment (16:106). The meaning of these verses is not clear even in the context of the sura in which they appear. Thus, even among Islamic scholars who agree that the verses provide Qurʾānic sanction for taqiyyah, there is considerable disagreement about how the verses do this and about what taqiyyah permits in practice.
The Hadith (record of the traditional sayings or accounts of Muhammad) has also been cited as providing theological warrant for taqiyyah. One hadith in particular mentions that Muhammad waited 13 years, until he could “gain a sufficient number of loyal supporters,” before combatting his powerful polytheistic enemies in Mecca. A similar story relates how ʿAlī, the fourth caliph (ruler of the Muslim community) and Muhammad’s son-in-law, followed Muhammad’s advice to refrain from fighting until he had “the support of forty men.” Some scholars interpret these legends as examples of taqiyyah. By avoiding combat against enemies of Islam until they could muster sufficient military force and moral support, ʿAlī and Muhammad preserved not only their own lives but their divinely appointed mission to spread the faith.
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Neither the Qurʾān nor the Hadith decrees points of doctrine or prescribes guidelines for behaviour when using taqiyyah. The circumstances in which it may be used and the extent to which it is obligatory have been widely disputed by Islamic scholars. According to scholarly and judicial consensus, it is not justified by the threat of flogging, temporary imprisonment, or other relatively tolerable punishments. The danger to the believer must be unavoidable. Also, while taqiyyah may involve disguising or suppressing one’s religious identity, it is not a license for a shallow profession of faith. Oaths taken with mental reservation, for example, are justified on the basis that God accepts what one believes inwardly. Consideration of community rather than private welfare is stressed in most cases.