Taqiya facts for kids
Taqiyya (pronounced: tah-KEE-yah) is an Arabic word that means "prudence" or "fear." In Islam, it's a way for people to hide their religious beliefs or practices when they are in danger. It's like pretending not to be a Muslim or doing something that seems against their religion, but only to stay safe.
Another word, Kitman (pronounced: kit-MAHN), is similar. It means "hiding" or "keeping quiet." Kitman is about keeping your beliefs secret by not speaking about them or leaving out information.
This practice is very important for Shia Muslims. They often faced danger and were treated badly because of their faith. So, Taqiyya became a way for them to protect themselves and their families.
Shia teachings say that Taqiyya is allowed when there's a big risk of losing your life or property. It's only for situations where hiding your faith won't harm your religion itself.
Contents
What Does Taqiyya Mean?
Taqiyya's Meaning
The word Taqiyya comes from an Arabic word root that means "caution," "fear," or "being careful." It's about protecting yourself from danger. Other words like taqwa also come from this root, but taqwa usually means "piety" or "fear of God."
What is Kitman?
Kitman means "hiding" or "covering up." While it's similar to Taqiyya, Kitman specifically means keeping your beliefs secret by staying silent or not sharing everything. For example, some early Muslim groups used Kitman to hide their beliefs when they were in danger.
Taqiyya in the Quran
The idea of Taqiyya comes from the Quran, the holy book of Islam. One verse (Sura 3:28) talks about it:
Believers should not make friends with non-believers instead of other believers. If anyone does this, they will not have Allah's protection. But you may protect yourselves from them carefully. Allah warns you about Himself, and to Allah you will return.
The words "protect yourselves" in this verse are related to "Taqiyya." Early Islamic scholars explained that this means Muslims can show friendship to non-believers on the outside if they fear for their safety, but they should not truly feel that way inside.
Another verse (Sura 16:106) also allows hiding one's faith when forced. This verse is linked to a story about a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, who was forced to say bad things about Islam under torture. The Quran said he was not to blame because his heart still believed.
Sunni Muslim View
Most Islamic scholars agree on the basic idea of Taqiyya. However, Sunni Muslims usually limit it to dealing with non-Muslims and only when someone is forced or in extreme danger. Shia Muslims allow it more broadly, even with other Muslims, and in all necessary situations.
In Sunni law, protecting your faith during extreme times is called idtirar, meaning "being forced." This isn't just for hiding faith; for example, if you're starving, you're allowed to eat forbidden food like pork to survive.
Some Sunni scholars believe that if you are forced to deny your faith, it's allowed, but choosing to die as a martyr is seen as a nobler choice. However, if you're forced to do something less serious, like eating forbidden food, you should do it to save your life.
A famous scholar, Al-Ghazali, wrote that saving a Muslim's life is very important. He said that lying is allowed if it prevents a Muslim from being killed.
Examples of Taqiyya in Sunni Islam
After the Christian rulers took back Spain in 1492, Muslims there were forced to become Christians or leave. Taqiyya became very important for them. It allowed them to become Christians on the outside while secretly practicing Islam. This way, they could stay safe during a difficult time.
Shia Muslim View
For Shia Muslims, Taqiyya has always been a key part of their faith. This is because Shia communities were often a minority and faced danger. They used Taqiyya to protect themselves and their beliefs.
Two main reasons for Taqiyya in Shia Islam are:
- Not telling others about their connection to their religious leaders (Imams) if it would put them in danger.
- Keeping the deeper, secret teachings of the Imams safe from those who are not ready to understand them.
Sometimes, Shia communities would pretend to be Sunni Muslims to stay safe in Sunni-majority areas. But Taqiyya also allows them to appear as other faiths. For example, some Shia groups in India pretended to be Hindus to avoid problems.
Twelver Shia View
The idea of Taqiyya became more developed during the time of Ja'far al-Sadiq, an important Shia Imam. This was when Shia Muslims faced harsh treatment from the rulers.
Taqiyya is very important in Twelver Shia Islam. It helped Shias protect themselves when they were a minority under Sunni rule. Shia law says Taqiyya can be used in many situations, especially when there's a big risk of harm.
However, Taqiyya is not allowed if it would cause an innocent person to die. It is forbidden to kill someone else to save your own life. Some Shias also see Taqiyya as a form of jihad (struggle), a way to fight against those who oppose them.
Some Shia teachings even say: "He who has no Taqiyya has no faith." This shows how central it is for some. But today, many Shias say Taqiyya is not as important in their religion anymore.
Ismaili Shia View
For Ismailis, another Shia group, Taqiyya became necessary after a big attack in 1256. They needed to protect their community and their leaders (Imams).
During times when their Imams were hidden or hard to reach, Ismailis practiced Taqiyya. This helped them keep their beliefs and teachings safe. One Ismaili leader even said, "If any religion is stronger than you, follow it, but keep me in your hearts." This means you can outwardly follow another religion while keeping your true faith secret.
A group called the Guptis in India used a special kind of Taqiyya. They appeared as Hindus to protect themselves. The name 'Gupta' in Sanskrit means "secret" or "hidden," which perfectly describes how they hid their true identity.
Alawite View
Alawites are another group who often hide their beliefs. This is because they have faced danger throughout history. Some of their faith's teachings are secret and only known to a few people.
Druze View
The Druze people, who have Shia roots, also use Taqiyya. When they were a minority and faced danger, they would outwardly follow the religion of the rulers in their area.
Modern Discussions About Taqiyya
In recent years, Taqiyya has become a topic of discussion. Some people wrongly claim that Taqiyya means Muslims have a religious duty to trick non-Muslims to spread Islam. However, experts say this is a misunderstanding. They explain that Taqiyya is a way for believers to hide their faith only when they are in danger.
Some writers have used this misunderstanding to say that Muslims use Taqiyya to hide their true intentions in Western countries. But many scholars disagree, saying Taqiyya is a defense tool to save lives, not a way to deceive others.
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See also
- Criticism of Twelver Shia Islam
- Crypto-Christianity
- Crypto-Islam
- Crypto-Judaism
- Denial of Peter
- Doctrine of mental reservation
- Islamic schools and branches
- Religious views on truth
- Mental reservation
- Munafiq
- Self-sacrifice in Jewish law
