Piety And Islamic Rules

Rules made by God Almighty are binding and it does not make any difference whether they are real or superficial (apparent), for benefits and harms in them have been taken into consideration. Therefore, when a religious authority issues a religious decree, he should be careful not to let his own opinion interfere in his Fatwa. Ibn Shabramah has been reported by Ibnul Sheikh in his Majalis from Husayn ibn Ubaydillah al-Ghadha’iri as saying: “Abu Haneefah and I went to see Imam Sadiq (AS). I said: ‘God has honored you. This is a man from Iraq, who has an understanding of religion and wisdom.’ Imam Sadiq (AS) said: ‘Perhaps he is the one who interprets religion due to his own opinion.’ Then the Imam (AS) said: ‘Which one is greater, prayer or fasting? I said: ‘Prayer.’ The Imam (AS) said: ‘Why is it that

a menstruating woman has to fast the missed days of fasting, but she does not have to perform the missed prayers (because of menstruation)? O Servant of Allah, fear Allah.” [1]

1. Taqiyyah [2]

If a servant of Allah wants to observe a real rule which entails risk, it is unlawful. He has to observe the superficial rule. Traditions on dissimulation (Taqiyyah) which has the same root as Taqwa refer to the same meaning. [3]

Dissimulation is a kind and the highest degree of piety. Abdullah ibn Jundab has been reported by Hammad ibn Eesa as saying: “Imam Musa al-Kadhim (AS), in giving the meaning of this verse: “Surely, the most honorable of you with Allah is the most careful of his duty”, has said: ‘It is the one with the utmost piety.’” [4]

Abdullah ibn Ya’foor reports: “I heard Imam Sadiq (AS) say: ‘Taqiyyah is the shield and the protector of a believer. One who has no Taqiyyah is not a believer.” [5]

Imam Sadiq (AS) has also been reported as saying: “There is nothing better than ‘Khaba’ to God in worshipping Him. I asked what ‘Khaba’ is, and the Imam said: ‘It is the same as Taqiyyah.’” [6]

There are many traditions on Taqiyyah which mean sometimes that man should conceal his faith in order to protect his own life and sometimes the lives of others.  

At some times, it is necessary for a Muslim to perform his religious duties like the opponents. Sayyid Murtadha (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned in his book al-Muhkam wel-Mutashabih that Imam Ali (AS) said: “When man has the option, he has been forbidden to take an unbeliever as his leader of Imam. Nevertheless, God has obliged man by giving him permission (dissimulation) to fast as the opponents fast, break his fasting like them, and perform prayer as they do out of Taqiyyah. Otherwise, it is incumbent upon him to follow his own beliefs.

God Almighty has said: “Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than the believers; and whoever does this shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of Himself.” [1]

Therefore, dissimulation is a blessing that God has given to the believers so as to save themselves and others. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “Allah likes His servants to observe what He has permitted and what he has forbidden.” [2]