al-Taqiyya/Dissimulation

Introduction

The word "al-Taqiyya" literally means: "Concealing or disguising one's

beliefs, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions, and/or strategies  at a

time of eminent danger, whether now or later in time, to save oneself from

physical and/or mental injury."  A one-word translation would be

"Dissimulation."

The above definition must be elaborated upon before any undertaking of this

topic is to ensue.  Although correct, the definition suffers from an

apparent generalization, and lacks some fundamental details that should be

construed:

First, the CONCEALMENT of one's beliefs does NOT necessitate an ABANDONMENT

of these beliefs.  The distinction between "concealment" and "abandonment"

MUST be noted here.

Second, there are numerous exceptions to the above definition, and they

MUST be judged according to the situation that one is placed in.  As such,

one should NOT make a narrow-minded generalization that encompasses all

situations, thereby failing to fully absorb the spirit of the definition.

Third, the word "beliefs" and/or "convictions" does NOT necessarily mean

"religious" beliefs and/or convictions.

With the above in mind, it becomes evident that a better, and more accurate

definition of  "al-Taqiyya" is "diplomacy."  The true spirit of "al-

Taqiyya" is better embodied in the single word "diplomacy" because it

encompasses a comprehensive spectrum of behaviors that serve to further the

vested interests of all parties involved.

al-Taqiyya According to the Sunnis

Some Sunnis assert that al-Taqiyya is an act of pure hypocrisy that serves

to conceal the truth and reveal that which is the exact opposite (of the

truth). Furthermore, according to those Sunnis, al-Taqiyya constitutes a

lack of faith and trust in Allah (SWT) because the  person who conceals his

beliefs to spare himself from eminent danger is fearful of humans, when, in

fact, he should be fearful of Allah (SWT) only.  As such, this person is a

coward.

Sunni Sources in Support of al-Taqiyya

The following exposition will Insha Allah demonstrate the existence

of al-Taqiyya in the Quran, Hadith, the Prophet's (PBUH&HF) custom, and the

companions' custom. As usual, Sunni books will be used to further the

argument. This is in keeping with the commitment to reveal the truth by

showing that the Sunnis reject the Shia's arguments, while THEIR OWN books

are replete (full) with the SAME ideologies that the Shia uphold! Although

some Wahhabis staunchly argue their aforementioned statements, and

aggressively defame the Shia and refute their doctrines, they have failed

to explain the validity of their argument vis-a-vis the existence of these

SAME doctrines in their own books, as has been demonstrated in ALL the past

posts about the Shia. Those who think that they are the true protectors of

the custom of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and the only guardians of the Islamic

Faith, how can they explain their own rejection of that which they are

supposed to protect? Rejecting al-Taqiyya is rejecting the Quran, as will

be shown shortly.

Let's Begin...

Reference 1:

Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his book, "al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi al-Tafsir al-

Ma'athoor," narrates Ibn Abbas', the MOST renowned and trusted narrator of

tradition in the sight of the Sunnis, opinion regarding al-Taqiyya in the

Quranic verse: "Let not the believers take for friends or helpers

unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, (they) shall have no

relation left with Allah except by way of precaution ("tat-taqooh"), that

ye may guard yourselves ("tooqatan") from them....[3:28]" that Ibn Abbas

said:

     "al-Taqiyya is with the tongue only; he who has been COERCED into

     saying that which angers Allah (SWT), and his heart is comfortable

     (i.e., his TRUE faith has NOT been shaken.), then (saying that which

     he has been coerced to say) will NOT harm him (at all); (because) al-

     Taqiyya is with the tongue only, (NOT the heart)."

NOTE: The two words "tat-taqooh" and "tooqatan," as mentioned in the Arabic

Quran, are BOTH from the same root of "al-Taqiyya."

NOTE ALSO: The "heart" as referred to above and in later occurrences refers

to the center of faith in an individual's existence.  It is mentioned many

times in the Quran.

Reference 2:

Ibn Abbas also commented on the above verse, as narrated in Sunan al-

Bayhaqi and Mustadrak al-Hakim, by saying:

     "al-Taqiyya is the uttering of the tongue, while the heart is

     comfortable with faith."

NOTE: The meaning is that the tongue is permitted to utter anything in a

time of need, as long as the heart is not affected; and one is still

comfortable with faith.

Reference 3:

Abu Bakr al-Razi in his book, "Ahkam al-Quran," v2, p10, has explained

the aforementioned verse "...except by way of precaution ("tat-taqooh"),

that ye may guard yourselves ("tooqatan") from them....[3:28]" by affirming

that al-Taqiyya should be used when one is afraid for life and/or limb.  In

addition, he has narrated that Qutadah said with regards to the above

verse:

     "It is permissible to speak words of unbelief when al-Taqiyya is

     mandatory."

Reference 4:

It has been narrated by Abd al-Razak, Ibn Sa'd, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim,

Ibn Mardawayh, al-Bayhaqi in his book "al- Dala-il," and it was corrected

by al-Hakim in his book "al- Mustadrak" that:

     "The nonbelievers arrested `Ammar Ibn Yasir (RA) and (tortured him

     until) he (RA) uttered foul words about the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and

     praised their gods (idols); and when they released him (RA), he (RA)

     went straight to the Prophet (PBUH&HF).  The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said:

     "Is there something on your mind?"  `Ammar Ibn Yasir (RA) said: "Bad

     (news)! They would not release me until I defamed you (PBUH&HF) and

     praised their gods!"  The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "How do you find

     your heart to be?" `Ammar (RA) answered: "Comfortable with faith."  So

     the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Then if they come back for you, then do

     the same thing all over again."  Allah (SWT) at that moment revealed

     the verse: "....except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in

     faith...[16:106]"

NOTE: The full verse that was quoted partially as part of the tradition

above, is: "Any one who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters unbelief,

EXCEPT UNDER COMPULSION, his heart remaining firm in faith -- but such as

open their breast to unbelief, -- on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs

will be a dreadful Chastisement [16:106]." (Emphasis Mine)

Reference 5:

It is narrated in Sunan al-Bayhaqi that Ibn Abbas explained the above verse

"Any one who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters unbelief....[16:106]"

by saying:

     "The meaning that Allah (SWT) is conveying is that he who utters

     unbelief after having believed, shall deserve the Wrath of Allah (SWT)

     and a terrible punishment.  However, those who have been coerced, and

     as such uttered with their tongues that which their hearts did not

     confirm to escape persecution, have nothing to fear; for Allah (SWT)

     holds His (SWT) servants responsible for that which their hearts have

     ratified."

Reference 6:

Another explanation of the above verse is provided by Jalal al-Din al-

Suyuti in his book, "al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi al- Tafsir al-Ma-athoor," vol.

2, p178; he says:

     "Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Munzir, and Ibn Abi Hatim narrated

     on the authority of Mujtahid (a man's name) that this verse was

     revealed in relation to the following event: A group of people from

     Mecca accepted Islam and professed their belief; as a result, the

     companions in Medina wrote to them requesting that they emigrate

     to Medina; for if they don't do so, they shall not be considered

     as those who are among the believers.  In compliance, the group left

     Mecca, but were soon ambushed by the nonbelievers (Quraish) before

     reaching their destination; they were coerced into disbelief, and they

     professed it.  As a result, the verse "...except under compulsion, his

     heart remaining firm in faith [16:106]..." was revealed."

Reference 7:

Ibn Sa'd in his book, "al-Tabaqat al-Kubra," narrates on the authority of

Ibn Sirin that:

     The Prophet (PBUH&HF) saw `Ammar Ibn Yasir (RA) crying, so he

     (PBUH&HF) wiped off his (RA) tears, and said: "The nonbelievers

     arrested you and immersed you in water until you said such and such

     (i.e., bad-mouthing the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and praising the pagan gods

     to escape persecution); if they come back, then say it again."

Reference 8:

It is narrated in al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, v3, p61, that:

     After the conquest of the city of Khaybar by the Muslims, the Prophet

     (PBUH&HF) was approached by Hajaj Ibn `Aalat and told: "O Prophet of

     Allah: I have in Mecca some excess wealth and some relatives, and I

     would like to have them back; am I excused if I bad-mouth you (to

     escape persecution)?"  The Prophet (PBUH&HF) excused him and said:

     "Say whatever you have to say."

Reference 9:

It is narrated by al-Ghazzali in his book, "Ihya `Uloom al-Din," that:

     Safeguarding of a Muslim's life is a mandatory obligation that should

     be observed; and that LYING is permissible when the shedding of a

     Muslim's blood is at stake.

Reference 10:

Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his book, "al-Ashbah Wa al-Naza'ir," affirms

that:

     "it is acceptable (for a Muslim) to eat the meat of a dead animal at a

     time of great hunger (starvation to the extent that the stomach is

     devoid of all food); and to loosen a bite of food (for fear of choking

     to death) by alcohol; and to utter words of unbelief; and if one is

     living in an environment where evil and corruption are the pervasive

     norm, and permissible things (Halal) are the exception and a rarity,

     then one can utilize whatever is available to fulfill his needs."

NOTE: The reference to the consumption of a dead animal is meant to

illustrate that EVEN forbidden things become permissible in a time of need.

Reference 11:

Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his book, "al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi al-Tafsir al-

Ma'athoor," v2, p176, narrates that:

     Abd Ibn Hameed, on the authority of al-Hassan, said: "al-Taqiyya is

     permissible until the Day of Judgment."

Reference 12:

Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, v7, p102, that Abu al-Darda' said:

     "(Verily) we smile for some people, while our hearts curse (those same

     people)."

Reference 13:

Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, v7, p81, that the Prophet (PBUH&HF)

said:

     "O `Aisha, the worst of people in the sight of Allah (SWT) are those

     that are avoided by others due to their extreme impudence."

NOTE: The meaning here is that one is permitted to use diplomacy to get

along with people. The above tradition was narrated when a person sought

permission to see the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) and prior to his asking

permission the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said that he was not a good man, but still

I shall see him. The Prophet talked to the person with utmost respect, upon

which Aisha inquired as to why did the Prophet (PBUH&HF) talk to the person

with respect despite his character, upon which the above reply was

rendered.

Reference 14:

Narrated in Sahih Muslim (English version), Chapter MLXXVII, v4, p1373,

Tradition #6303:

     Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum

     daughter of 'Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and she was one amongst the first

     emigrants who pledged allegiance to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon

     him), as saying that she heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon

     him) as saying: A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation

     amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he

     conveys good.  Ibn Shihab said he did not hear that exemption was

     granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases:

     in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the

     narration of the words of the husband to wife, and the narration of

     the words of a wife to her husband (in a twisted form in order to

     bring reconciliation between them).

The (Sunni) commentator of this volume of Sahih Muslim, Abdul Hamid

Siddiqi, provides the following commentary:

     Telling of a lie is a grave sin but a Muslim is permitted to tell a

     lie in some exceptional cases, and this permission is given especially

     on three occasions: in case of battle for bringing reconciliation

     amongst the hostile Muslims and for bringing reconciliation between

     the husband and the wife.  On the analogy [Qiyas] of these three

     cases, the scholars of Hadith have pointed out some other exemptions:

     for saving the life and honor of innocent person from the

     highhandedness of tyrants and oppressors if one finds no other way to

     save them.

Notice that neither the above tradition nor the commentary are concerned

with dealing with non-Muslims only.

Please refer to Sahih Muslim Volume IV

Chapter MLXXVII

Tradition no. 6303 p1373

English only - Abdul Hamid Siddiqui