Islam is all about faith and trust in one true God, called Allah in Islam. Anything other than Allah, the One and the Only Being to be worshiped and prayed to is transgressing the limits set by Allah. Thus, in Islam, "Taghut" (Arabic: طاغوت) refers to anything or anyone that is worshipped, followed, or obeyed in place of Allah, representing falsehood, misguidance, and rebellion against the truth, encompassing false idols, misguided beliefs, and corrupt leaders.
In Qur'an, the terminology Taghut is used in several verses of the Qur'an to describe false deities, oppressive rulers, or systems that lead people away from the monotheistic worship of Allah. The terminology Taghut (Arabic: طاغوت, ṭāġūt) comes from the Arabic root word "t-gh-w", which means anything or anyone that exceeds the bounds of proper obedience to Allah.
For example, if one gives away an Attribute of Allah to something or someone, he sees that as a god or partner next to Allah. And that is what Islam strongly prohibits, for that is the major form of Shirk. And verily, We have sent to every nation a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah and reject the Taghut (idol).
Meaning and mention of the terminology Taghut in the Qur'an
Here are some key references:
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:256):
- "There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. So whoever renounces Taghut and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the most trustworthy, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing."
- This verse highlights that renouncing Taghut is a fundamental aspect of true faith. The person who turns away from Taghut and embraces belief in Allah is said to hold onto the "most trustworthy, unfailing hand-hold," referring to the unwavering faith in Allah.
- Surah An-Nisa (4:60):
- "Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, O Muhammad, and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer to Taghut for judgment, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray."
- Here, Taghut is associated with any authority or power that leads people to act in opposition to the commands of Allah. The verse emphasizes that those who turn to such authorities for judgment, instead of relying on Allah's commands, are considered misguided.
- Surah Al-A'raf (7:55):
- "Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors."
- In the context of these verses, Taghut can also be seen as anything that hinders people from calling upon Allah directly and sincerely.
Taghut in Sunnah (Hadith)
In the Sunnah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also warned against worshipping or submitting to Taghut. He made it clear that true belief in Allah entails rejecting all forms of false deities and systems that lead people away from the worship of Allah.
- Hadith in Sahih Muslim:
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says: 'There is no god but Allah' and denies what is worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and his blood are sacred, and his judgment is with Allah." (Sahih Muslim)
- This hadith emphasizes the importance of denying all forms of false worship, including Taghut, and affirming belief in Allah alone. It is an affirmation of Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and a rejection of all forms of idolatry and false authorities.
- Hadith in Sahih Bukhari
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best of what I have said and the Prophets before me have said is: 'There is no god but Allah, alone without partners, to Him belongs the kingdom and to Him belongs the praise, and He is over all things competent.'" (Sahih Bukhari)
- This statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) underscores the centrality of Tawhid and the rejection of everything that is in opposition to it, including Taghoot.
Types of Taghut
Taghut is not limited to physical idols; it encompasses any authority or power that usurps the right of Allah alone to be obeyed. And if we really look around, we would find Taghut in abundance wielding power to subdue the weak. Examples include:
- False gods – Idols or deities worshipped by people, whether in the form of statues, heavenly bodies, or anything that replaces Allah as the object of worship. These gods and idol worshipping abound around the world specially in many Asian countries. People revere men who claim to be friends of Allah but in fact in their hearts they yearn that people should flock around them instead of asking Allah for help.
- Oppressive Governments or Leaders – Any ruler who demands obedience that contradicts the commands of Allah or who acts in a way that usurps the rights and authority of Allah. This is mostly the case. Governments and leaders exploit their people in the name of democracy or kingship or even religion.
- Systems and Ideologies – Any system, be it political, legal, or societal, that contradicts the fundamental principles of Islam and leads people away from the path of righteousness as prescribed by Allah.
Conclusion:
In Islam, Taghut refers to any force, authority, or belief system that challenges or opposes the sovereignty and worship of Allah alone. The Qur'an and Sunnah emphasize that true believers must reject all forms of Taghut in their lives, whether they manifest as idols, oppressive rulers, or false ideologies. Rejecting Taghut and submitting to Allah alone is seen as a key tenet of the Islamic faith.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.