TAQIYYA; TAQIYYAH
Taqiyya, or not showing their faith openly by means of
pretense, dissimulation, or concealment, is a special
type of LYING which is
taught and used by Shi'a Muslims,
cf. Sunni Muslims and Taqiyya.
"Taqiyya" (or taqiyyah) is related to the terms "taqwa'"
and "taqi'" - all have the root meaning of "guarding"
something, in this case, the Islamic faith.
This practice, along with the practice of
Kithman,
or concealing their faith from non-Shi'as, were, and
are many places today, a method of self-preservation for
the Shi'a community. Historically, the Shiites have been
in the minority and have been persecuted by Sunni Muslims
who considered them heretics. Shi'as are often persecuted
today in Pakistan and Afghanistan and Sunni-Shi'a violence
is fairly common. Sunnis would often attempt to force
Shi'as to curse the House of Ali - believing that no
devout Shiite could commit such an act. As a result of
this persecution, the idea of taqiyya emerged. In other
words, if a Shi'a Muslim's life is in danger, he may lie
as long as he holds true to Ali in his heart.
Shi'as believe that the origin of this line of defence
comes from the Qur'an. When Moses returned from the
mountain and saw his people worshiping the golden calf,
he was understandably angry and asked his brother Aaron
why he allowed such a terrible sin to be committed.
The Qur'an tells us
When Moses came back to his people, angry and
grieved, he said: "Evil it is that ye have done in my
place in my absence: did ye make haste to bring on the
judgment of your Lord?" He put down the tablets, seized
his brother by (the hair of) his head, and dragged him
to him. Aaron said: "Son of my mother! the people
did indeed reckon me as naught, and went near to slaying
me! Make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune,
nor count thou me amongst the people of sin." Moses prayed:
"O my Lord! forgive me and my brother! admit us to Thy
mercy! for Thou art the Most Merciful of those who show
mercy!" Sura 7:150-151
This verse is important because, since all Muslims believe
that Aaron is a Prophet, none would criticize him for
cowardice.
A more specific justification for taqiyya by the Shi'as is
the instance when 'Ammar ibn al-Yasir (one of the companions
loyal to 'Ali and considered to be one of the first Shi'a)
was detained and tortured by infidels. He renounced his
faith in order to escape and immediately went to Muhammad
and repented. 'Umar suggested that he be put to death for
apostasy, however, Muhammad said that it was better for him
to renounce his faith with his lips (while still believing
in his heart) than to be burned to death by the infidels.
This account is surprising considering how much emphasis
the Qur'an places on martyrdom. Today, many Sunnis criticize
'Ammar for his actions and there is a significant difference
of philosophy between Sunnis and Shi`a which creates this
dilemma. The Sunnis believe that human beings have little
or no free will, while the Shi`a believe that humans enjoy
a great deal of free will.
To a Sunni, God decides how, and when, one is going to die
and what is going to happen to all people - both believers
and unbelievers. Therefore, it makes little difference
what decisions one makes - everything is in God's hands, and
it is not right to outwardly deny the faith in order to escape
torture or death.
By contrast, the Shi'a believe that life is a gift from God
and like any gift from God, should be preserved and not squandered.
Anything that one can do to save one's life should be done, even
if it is contrary to God's laws. In a life-threatening emergency,
self-preservation, and the preservation of the faith take precedence
over obedience to the shari'ah - in fact, this kind of preservation
in such situations would be considered obedience to the shari'ah.
Taqiyya is to be practiced only when one fears for one's life,
the lives of one's family members, or for the preservation of
the faith. In those situations, according to most Shi`a jurisprudents,
taqiyya is required!
Some Shiite Traditions promoting taqiyya are
Imam Jafar Sadi (R) said:
"Associate your opponents only outwardly and oppose
them inwardly." (Ft. #1, Usool al Kafi, p.244)
Zararah narrates that I asked a certain question to Imam
Baqar (R). He gave me its answer. Another person then asked
the same question and the Imam gave him a different answer.
Later a third person asked the same question, but the Imam's
answer this time was different from the previous two answers.
I then asked him: "O, the son of the Messenger (S)! The two
persons who just came here to ask you questions were from
Iraq and were Shias, yet you gave them contradictory answers".
The Imam then answered: "O Zararah! This is good for me as
well as for you and this will help us survive and prosper".
(Ft. #2 Ibid, p.37)
For more information on this topic, please read
this article
and this linked section of
Relation
of Shi'a Theology to the Qur'an.
Shia Encyclopedia entry:
Taqiyya
Sunni Muslims and taqiyya
However, although taqiyya is usually seen as a Shia doctrine only, it is practiced and
taught also by Sunni Muslims, cf. the discussion of friendship with unbelievers
in the entry on FRIENDS. Here just one quotation from
a Sunni website, Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com), advising in regard to making friends
with non-Muslims:
"Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Awliyaa' (supporters,
helpers) instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be
helped by Allaah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them" [Aal 'Imraan 3:28]
This verse explains all the verses quoted above which forbid taking
the kaafirs as friends in general terms. What that refers to is in cases
where one has a choice, but in cases of fear and TAQIYYAH it is
permissible to make friends with them, as much as is essential to protect
oneself against their evil. That is subject to the condition that one's
faith should not be affected by that friendship and the one who is behaves
in that manner out of necessity is not one who behaves in that manner out of
choice.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was asked about the ruling on mixing with the kuffaar and treating them kindly
hoping that they will become Muslim. He replied:
Undoubtedly the Muslim is obliged to HATE the enemies of Allaah and to
disavow them, because this is the way of the Messengers and their followers...
Based on this, it is not permissible for a Muslim to feel any love in his
heart towards the enemies of Allaah who are in fact his enemies too...
But if a Muslim treats them with KINDNESS and gentleness in the hope that
they will become Muslim and will believe, there is nothing wrong with that,
because it comes under the heading of opening their hearts to Islam. But if
he despairs of them becoming Muslim, then he should treat them accordingly.
This is something that is discussed in detail by the scholars, especially in
the book Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah by Ibn al-Qayyim ...
(Question #59879: What
is meant by taking the kuffaar as friends? Ruling on mixing with the kuffaar; bold and capital emphasis ours)
Further discussion:
Sunni Muslims and Taqiyyah
See also the entries LYING
and DECEPTION.
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