The Meaning of Taghut
08-03-2008
by Sheikh Imām Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhāb (رحمه
الله )
From “Ma’anaa at-Tāghūt wa Ru’oos Anwaa’ihi”
Know, may Allāh تعالى have mercy on you, that the first
thing Allāh تعالى obligated on the Son of Adam is to reject the Tāghūt and
believe in Allāh تعالى. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “And We have
indeed sent to every nation a messenger (saying to his people): ‘Worship Allāh
تعالى alone and avoid the Tāghūt (false deities).” [Surah An-Nahl: 36]
As for the description of Rejecting the Tāghūt, then it is that you believe in
the futility of worshipping other than Allāh تعالى, and that you abandon doing
so and hate it, and that you reject and make enmity with does who do it. And as
for the meaning of Believing in Allāh تعالى, then it is that you believe that
Allāh تعالى is the only true God who deserves to be worshipped alone, apart from
everything else besides Him. And it is that you make all types of worship –
every act - sincerely for Allāh تعالى alone, while negating and rejecting that
from everything else that is worshipped besides Him.
It also entails that you love and show friendship to the people of Ikhlaas (i.e.
Islaam), while hating and showing enmity to the people of Shirk. This is the
Religion of Ibraaheem, of which those who turn away from it only fool
themselves. And this is the good example that Allāh تعالى informs us of in His
saying: “There has indeed been an excellent example for you in Ibraaheem and
those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you
and whatever you worship besides Allāh تعالى. We have rejected you and there has
commenced between us and you, enmity and hatred forever, until you believe in
Allāh تعالى alone.’” [Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 4]
The word Tāghūt is general.
So everything that is worshipped besides Allāh تعالى, while being pleased with
this worship – whether it is something worshipped, someone followed, or someone
obeyed in the absence of obedience to Allāh تعالى and His Messenger, then that
is considered Tāghūt. The Tawāghīt (pl. of Tāghūt) are many, but their heads are
five:
The First: The Devil who calls the people to worship other than Allāh
تعالى. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “Did I not command you O
children of Aadam, that you should not worship the Devil. Verily, he is a plain
enemy to you.” [Surah YaaSeen: 60]
The Second: The tyrannical and oppressive ruler who changes Allāh تعالى’s
rulings. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “Have you not seen those
(hypocrites) who claim to believe in that which has been revealed to you, and
that which was revealed before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their
disputes) to the Tāghūt, when they have been ordered to reject them? But the
Devil wishes to lead them far astray.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 60]
The Third: The one who judges by other than what Allāh تعالى has revealed, and
the proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “And whoever does not judge by what
Allāh تعالى has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah:
44]
The Fourth: The one who claims to have knowledge of the Unseen, apart
from Allāh تعالى. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “He alone is the
All-Knower of the Unseen, and He does not disclose His Unseen matters to
anyone.” [Surah Al-Jinn: 26-27] And He says: “And with Him lie the keys to the
Unseen, no one knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and
in the sea; not a leaf falls except that He knows about it. There is not a grain
in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry, but that it is written
in a Clear Record.” [Surah Al-Ana’aam: 59]
The Fifth: The one who is worshipped apart from Allāh تعالى, while being
pleased with being worshipped. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying: “And
whoever amongst them says: ‘Verily, I am a God besides Him (Allāh تعالى)’, then
this person’s recompense will be the Hellfire. That is the way we recompense the
wrongdoers.” [Surah Al-Anbiyaa: 29]
And know that man will never become a believer in Allāh تعالى unless he rejects
and disbelieves in the Tāghūt. The proof for this is Allāh تعالى’s saying:
“There is no compulsion in the Religion. Verily, the right path has become
distinct from the wrong path. So whoever disbelieves in
the Tāghūt and believes in Allāh تعالى, then he has taken hold of the
firmest handhold, that will never break. And Allāh تعالى is the All-Hearer, the
All-Knower.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 256]
The “right path” here refers to the Religion of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم ),
while the “wrong path” refers to the Religion of Abu Jahl. The “firmest
handhold” refers to the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship
except Allāh تعالى (Laa Ilaaha Illallaa). This testimony consists of a negation
and an affirmation. It negates all types of worship from those worshipped
besides Allāh تعالى, while affirming all types of worship done for Allāh تعالى
alone, free from any partner.
Submitted by a Mujahid