View source for Taghut

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{{Short description|Islamic term for idols or idolatry}}
{{redirect|Taghout|the village in Azerbaijan|Ataqut}}
{{Usul al-fiqh}}
'''''Taghut''''' ({{langx|ar|طاغوت}}, ṭāġūt; pl. ''ṭawāġīt''  ({{lang|ar|طواغيت}}); broadly: "to go beyond the measure") is [[Islamic terminology]] denoting the worship of another deity besides [[God in Islam|God]].<ref>Dmitriev, K., & Toral-Niehoff, I. (Eds.). (2017). Religious culture in late antique Arabia: selected studies on the late antique religious mind. Gorgias Press. p. 55</ref> In traditional [[Islamic theology|theology]], the term often connotes [[Idolatry|idols]] or [[shaitan|demon]]s drawn to blood of pagan sacrifices.<ref>{{cite book |first=Tobias |last=Nünlist |title=Dämonenglaube im Islam |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |year=2015 |isbn=978-3-110-33168-4 |page=210 |language=de }}</ref> The pre-Islamic deities [[al-Lāt]] and [[al-ʿUzzā]], later also [[Satan]], are associated with that term.<ref>"ṭāg̲h̲ūt". In Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Glossary and Index of Terms, (Brill, 2012) doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_ei2glos_SIM_gi_04636</ref> In modern times, the term is also applied to earthly tyrannical power.<ref name="Jo">Momen, Moojan. (1995). "Țāghūt". In John L. Esposito. ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.</ref>
The modern [[Islamic philosopher]] [[Abul A'la Maududi]] defines ''taghut'' in his [[tafsir|Quranic commentary]] as a creature who not only rebels against God but transgresses his will.<ref>Mawdudi, 1988, vol.1, pp.199-200</ref> Due to these associations, in contemporary political discourse, the term is used to refer topeople considered anti-Islamic and agent of Western [[cultural imperialism]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} The term was introduced to modern political discourse since the usage surrounding [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] during the [[1979 Iranian Revolution]], through accusations made both by and against Khomeini.<ref name="Jo" />
==Etymology==
The Arabic word ''{{transl|ar|ALA|ṭāġūt}}'' is commonly seen as derived from the [[Semitic root#Triconsonantal roots|three-letter verbal root]] of {{lang|ar|ط-غ-ي}} {{smallcaps|[[:wikt:ط_غ_ي|ṭ-ġ-y]]}}, which means to "cross the limits, overstep boundaries," or "to rebel."<ref>{{cite book |title=Understanding the Islamic Scripture |year=2007 |first=Mustansir |last=Mir |page=55 |isbn=978-0-321-35573-7 |location=New York |publisher=Pearson Longman }}</ref> From this, ''Taghut'' denotes one who exceeds their limits.
Taghut is used together with {{lang|ar|جِبْت}} ''jibt'' in [[An-Nisa|surah al-Nisa 4]]:51). Wahib Atallah says that these words are of [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] origins and explains these words as [[Hejaz]]i pronunciations of [[Copt]] and [[Thoth]].<ref> H. Rahman, “Jibt, Taghut and the Tahkim of the Umma”, Arabica, 29/1 (February 1982), 57</ref>
==In the Quran==
The term ''taghut'' occurs eight times in the [[Quran]].<ref name="Jo" /> In [[Pre-Islamic Arabia]] referring to pagan deities such as [[Al-Lat]] and [[Al-Uzza]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Fahd |first=T. |last2=Stewart |first2=F. H. |chapter=Ṭāg̲h̲ūt |title=Encyclopaedia of Islam |edition=Second |editor1-first=P. |editor1-last=Bearman |editor2-first=Th. |editor2-last=Bianquis |editor3-first=C. E. |editor3-last=Bosworth |editor4-first=E. |editor4-last=van Donzel |editor5-first=W. P. |editor5-last=Heinrichs <!--|access-date=15 March 2020--> |doi=10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_1147 |year=2012 |isbn=9789004161214 |postscript=,}} 1960-2007</ref>
{{quote|"Do you not see how those given a share of the Scripture, [evidently] now believe in idols and evil powers? (Taghut) They say of the disbelievers, 'They are more rightly guided than the believers."| Qur'an, Sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayat 51<ref>{{cite quran|7|51|s=ns}}</ref>}}
This is taken to refer to an actual event in which a group of disbelieving Meccans went to two eminent Jewish figures for counsel on the truth of Muhammad's teachings and were told that the pagans were more rightly guided than Muslims.<ref>See Abdel Haleem Oxford Translation p.87 notes</ref>
{{quote|"Do you [Prophet] not see those who claim to believe in what has been sent down to you, and in what was sent down before you, yet still want to turn to unjust tyrants for judgement, although they have been ordered to reject them? Satan wants to lead them far astray."| Qur'an, Sura 4 (An-Nisa), [[Ayah|ayat]] 60<ref>{{cite quran|4|60|s=ns}}</ref>}}
The Arabic ''taghut'' is variously interpreted to refer to idols, a specific tyrant, an oracle, or an opponent of the Prophet.<ref>See Abdel Haleem Oxford Translation of the Qur'an p.89</ref><ref>Abdel Haleem Oxford Translation p.91</ref>
{{quote|"The believers fight for God's cause, while those who reject faith fight for an unjust cause (taghut). Fight the allies of Satan: Satan's strategies are truly weak."|Qur'an, Sura 4 (An-Nisa), [[Ayah|ayat]] 76<ref>{{cite quran|4|76|s=ns}}</ref>}}
Again, this term ''taghut'' has been used here to designate a demon worshipped by the Quraysh.<ref>Dr. Shmuel Bar  ''Lebanese Hizballah – Political, Ideological and Organizational Highlights '' 29 October 2006  p. 6</ref>
{{quote|"There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects (taghut) false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. God is all hearing, all knowing."| Qur'an, Sura 2 (Al-Baqarah), [[Ayah|ayat]] 256<ref>{{cite quran|7|256|s=ns}}</ref>}}
== See also ==
{{columns-list|
* ''[[Ifrit]]''
* [[Jinn]]
* ''[[Munafiq]]''
* ''[[Mumin]]''
* ''[[Shirk (Islam)|Shirk]]''
* ''[[Tawhid]]''
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Characters and names in the Quran}}
[[Category:Arabic words and phrases in Sharia]]
[[Category:Idolatry]]
[[Category:Sharia legal terminology]]
[[Category:Quranic words and phrases]]