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Friday 22nd of November 2024
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al-Taqiyya/Dissimulation (Part II)

The Shia did NOT innovate or concoct anything new, they simply followed the

injunctions of Allah (SWT), as stated in the Quran, and the custom of the

Seal of Prophethood, Muhammad (PBUH&HF). Nonetheless, one must also examine

what the Shia themselves say about al-Taqiyya:

al-Shaykh Muhammad Ridha al-Mudhaffar in his book, "Aqa'id al-Imamiyah,"

wrote that:

     "al-Taqiyya should conform to specific rules vis-a-vis the situation

     wherein eminent danger is present; these rules, listed in many books

     of Fiqh (Jurisprudence), along with the severity of the danger

     determine the validity, or lack of, al-Taqiyya itself. It is not

     mandatory to practice it (al-Taqiyya) at all times; on the contrary,

     it is permissible, and sometimes necessary, to abandon it (al-Taqiyya)

     altogether; as in the case where revealing the truth will further the

     cause of the religion, and provide a direct service to Islam; and

     (when the revealing of the truth is such that it constitutes) a jihad

     (striving) for (Islam's) sake; (verily,) in such a situation, wealth

     and life should be forsaken.  Furthermore, al-Taqiyya is prohibited in

     instances wherein the killing of innocent people and the spread of

     corruption will result; and in cases wherein the marring of the

     religion will result, and/or a significant harm will befall the

     Muslims, either by leading them astray or corrupting and oppressing

     them.

     Either way, al-Taqiyya, as the Shia uphold it, does not make of the

     Shia a secret cooperative that seeks to destroy and corrupt, as the

     enemies (of the Shia) wish to present them; (these critics launch

     their verbal attacks) without really heeding the subject (of al-

     Taqiyya); and (without even) laboring to understand our own opinion on

     the matter (of al-Taqiyya).

     Nor does it (al-Taqiyya) mandate that the religion and its injunctions

     become a secret of secrets that cannot be disclosed to those who do

     not subscribe to its teachings. How so, when the books of the

     Imamiyah (the Shia) that deal with the (subjects of) Fiqh, Kalam, and

     beliefs are in abundant supply, and have exceeded the limits (of

     publications) expected from any nation professing its beliefs."

Imam Khomeini in his book, "Islamic Government," also presents his view on

al-Taqiyya. He believes that al-Taqiyya is permitted only when one's life

is jeopardized.  Whereas in cases wherein the religion of Allah (SWT),

Islam, is in danger, it is not permitted even if it leads to one's death:

     The Imams, may peace be upon them, imposed on the jurisprudence very

     important ordinances and committed them to shouldering and preserving

     the trust.  It is not right to resort to dissimulation on every issue,

     small and big. Dissimulation was legislated to preserve one's life or

     others from damage on subsidiary issues of the laws.  But if Islam in

     its entirety is in danger, then there is no place for dissimulation

     and for silence.  What do you think a jurisprudent should do if they

     force him to legislate or innovate?... If dissimulation forces on us

     to jump on the sultan's bandwagon then it should not be resorted to

     even if such refrainment leads to the death of the person concerned,

     unless his jumping on the bandwagon constitutes a real victory for

     Islam and the Muslims, as in the case of Ali Ibn Yaqtin and Nasiruddin

     in al-Tusi, may Allah have mercy upon their souls.

In his book, "Shi'ite Islam" (translated into English by Sayyed Hussein

Nasr), the Shi'i scholar Allama Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai defines

Taqiyya as the situation where a person "hides his religion or certain of

his religious practices in situations that would cause definite or probable

danger as a result of the actions of those who are opposed to his religion

or particular religious practices." He goes on to define the nature of the

danger:

     The exact extent of danger which would make permissible the practice

     of Taqiyya has been debated among different Shia scholars.  In our

     view point, the practice of Taqiyya is permitted if there is definite

     danger facing one's own life or the life of one's family, or the

     possibility of the loss of the honor and virtue of one's wife or of

     other female members of the family, or the danger of the loss of one's

     material belongings to such an extent as to cause complete destitution

     and prevent a man from being able to continue to support himself and

     his family.

Tabatabai cited two verses from the Quran in support of al-Taqiyya:

"...except for precaution and           

dissimulation that you may protect     

yourselves against them..."(Quran 3:28)  : 

For the above verse, the great Sunni scholar, Mawdudi, has a commentary in

support of Taqiyya. Notice that in the above verse, the words "tattaqu" and

"toqat" have exactly the same root as Taqiyya.

The second verse is the following:

     "Any one who becomes unbeliever after being believer, EXCLUDING the

     one who is under compulsion and force while his hurt is firm in faith,

     but the one go on in disbelief, Wrath of Allah is on to them and they

     will have a dreadful penalty," (Quran 16:106)

Then Tabatabai explained:

     As mentioned in both Sunni and Shi'ite sources this verse was revealed

     concerning 'Ammar Ibn Yasir.  After the migration (hijrah) of the

     Prophet, the infidels of Mecca imprisoned some of the Muslims of that

     city and tortured them, forcing them to leave Islam and to return to

     their former religion of idolatry.  Included in this group who were

     tortured were Ammar and his father and mother. Ammar's parents refused

     to turn away from Islam and died under torture.  But Ammar, in order

     to escape torture and death, outwardly left Islam and accepted idol

     worship, thereby escaping from danger.   Having become free, he left

     Mecca secretly for Medina.   In Medina he went before the Holy

     Prophet--upon whom be blessings and peace--and in a state of penitence

     and distress concerning what he had done, he asked the Prophet if by

     acting as he did, he had fallen outside the sacred precinct of

     religion.  Then Prophet said that his duty was what he had

     accomplished. The above verse was then revealed.

     The two verses cited above were revealed concerning particular cases

     but their meaning is such that they embrace all situations in which

     the outward expression of doctrinal belief and religious practice

     might bring about a dangerous situation.  Besides these verses, there

     exist many traditions from the members of the Household of the

     Prophet, ordering Taqiyya when there is fear of danger.

     Some have criticized Shia by saying that to employ the practice of

     Taqiyya in religion is opposed to the virtues of courage and bravery.

     The least amount of thought about this accusation will bring to light

     its invalidity, for Taqiyya must be practiced in a situation where man

     faces a danger which he cannot resist and against which he cannot

     fight.

     Resistance to such a danger and failure to practice Taqiyya in such

     circumstances shows rashness and foolhardiness, not courage and

     bravery.  The qualities of courage and bravery can be applied only

     when there is at least the possibility of success in man's efforts.

     But before a definite or probable danger against which there is no

     possibility of victory--such as drinking water in which there is

     probably poison or throwing oneself before a cannon that is being

     fired or lying down on the tracks before an onrushing train--any

     action of this kind is nothing but a form of madness and contrary to

     logic and common sense.  Therefore, we can summarize by saying that

     Taqiyya must be practiced only when there is a definite danger which

     cannot be avoided and against which there is no hope of a successful

     struggle and victory.

Please refer to Shi'ite Islam

Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatai

Translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

pp 223-225

It is apparent then, from the above quotes, that the Shia are NOT advocates

of hypocrisy, secrecy, and cowardice, as some of the Wahhabis, among

others, purport.

The following is from the book of Moojan Momen, which is entitled "An

Introduction to Shi'i Islam:  History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi'ism,"

When discussing the sixth Shi'i Imam (successor to the prophet), Imam

Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS), he writes:

     The doctrine of Taqiyya (dissimulation) was widely used at that time.

     It served to protect the followers of Imam al-Sadiq at a time when al-

     Mansur [the caliph] was conducting a brutally oppressive campaign

     against the Followers of the Members of the House of Prophet and their

     supporters.


source : http://www.erfan.ir
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